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Beer Belly
Category: Restaurants Gastropubs Gastropubs [Edit]
532 S. Western Ave.Los Angeles, CA 90020
Neighbourhood: Koreatown
(213) 387-2337
- Hours:
Mon, Wed-Sat 5 pm - 1 am
Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
263 reviews for Beer Belly
Review Highlights
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"The duck fat fries are amazingly delectable." In 65 reviews -
"gonna eat all the grilled cheese next time." In 48 reviews -
"and catfish/chips were all very yummy." In 19 reviews
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263 reviews in English
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Review from Johnny T.
Los Angeles, CA
5/22/2012 1 photo
Great little spot, attentive, friendly staff, a delicious beer selection and the exact food you need to eat after two or three beers.
I had the fries with duck magic (confit), grilled cheese drizzled with tree blood (maple syrup), and that crazy catfish. All of it rocked that fingerlickin swag to the fullest ninjas!
Get with Beer Belly and bring your Iphone (or lesser hand-held device) and take part in their democratic jukebox while you get your buzz on and salivate over that deep fried Twinkie you know you're gonna order.
took the old-lady here on her birthday and these ninjas popped out with a birthday treat...unasked. i see you beer belly. now lets get some pork belly on the menu. -
Review from Erika M.
Updated - 5/18/2012
You've done it again! And again. And again!
We we're a bit sad that the mac n cheese wasn't on the menu a couple of days ago, but that frown turned upside down with a quickness once we tasted your Gremlin braised short rib on a cheese puff pastry. Jesus H. Christ, that was delicious! Your ever changing menu is such a delight. Kudos to the chef!
Keep up the good work BB!Listed in: Hora Feliz en El Lay!…
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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3/22/2012
Oh Beer Belly, you have outdone yourself!
Finally got a chance to try your delicious duck fat fries,… Read more »
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Review from Maggie C.
Los Angeles, CA
5/15/2012
If you need proof of some almighty deity that is in fact a just and giving god, come to Beer Belly.
I've been here a couple of times with my boyfriend and we have never walked out unhappy. It's a small place, but I think that is one of its greatest attributes. It's crowded but never feels cramped, and it doesn't try too hard to be cool. It just is.
Although I can't consider myself a connoisseur, the beer selection is excellent and changes pretty often, which makes me want to become one. The staff is very knowledgable and will happily give you a recommendation, even if you're a beer dunce like me who just says, "I don't want anything too heavy." They will ask you follow up questions and even bring out samples.
And the food. Dear god, the food. As everyone else raves, the duck fat fries are out of this world. Don't even think about getting them without the Duck Confit. Last time we got the grilled cheese, which had TONS of cheese, bacon, and was drizzled in maple syrup.
I definitely have plans to come here again and this will be one of the places I bring friends who are coming in from out of town. -
Review from Carol L.
Irvine, CA
5/22/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I.LOVE.THIS.PLACE. =D
what a hidden gem! it's inbetween iota (the korean bakery/restaurant) and iloveboba. it's located in the back so it can be easily missed. the place is small, but cozy. overall, it has a great ambiance. there are selective, not as common beers on tap which is a plus since this place is in ktown. it's a nice gastropub to casually chill with friends, drink beer while snacking on yummy food. as mentioned by my fellow yelpers, the duck fat fries are a must! when you go in, just sit down anywhere you'd like and order from the bar. i believe everyday is happy hour until 7PM. WOOT WOOT~ -
Review from Leslie T.
Los Angeles, CA
5/12/2012
They have Bundaberg Australian Ginger Beer! Designated drivers everywhere should rejoice!
Besides that, the beer list is extensive - though I did not personally try the beer, my friends were raving and having a hard time trying another beer because they were in love with their initial choice. I take this as a very good sign.
Now let's talk about the amazing part...the food. Holy moley mother of jurassic park! The food was surreal, I'm talking - I have no idea how they even came up with some of the stuff..I mean their raspberry mustard that goes with their duck confit french fries? Who even comes up with that!?! It was amazing, I could not use enough non-rated R adjectives to fully describe the experience that I had. The fried chicken, hot wings, the grilled cheese that defeated Farmer John, the brussels sprouts and mac n' cheese (the fries were the best part though)..you have to try EVERYTHING on the menu (note: food available until midnight). If you still have room, you need the dessert menu...deep fried oatmeal. That's all you need to know, throw in the oreos and twinkies? Just remember to share...
On top of that, the atmosphere is great. Jimmy (owner) and Wes (exec chef) are so welcoming. Their home is your home...they even let you control the music played...while you sit on chairs made from 111 recycled coke bottles. This is where you come with friends, to enjoy friendship, five-star dining and a beer list to will help you expand your horizons. -
Review from glen b.
Malibu, CA
5/22/2012
It's a bit of a bare bones somewhat raucous place. But we had a lot of fun.
Inside it is a loud an noisy box. Outside they had a "beer garden", some cheap tables and chairs on a fake grass mat at the edge of the parking lot. But, it was a beautiful warm sunny sunday afternoon. They were giving out free samples of a delicious stout and free bits of a grilled cheese and bacon. We hung out, got some great tips on korean restaurants from two lovely girls sitting next to us. The beers were great, duck fries greasy, and we got to check out the progress of the Solar Eclipse from our seats in the parking lot as we drank and relaxed.
Biergarten is a much nicer. more serious place.
The names say it all. -
Review from hannah g.
Santa Monica, CA
5/7/2012
Went here finally on Friday night, after wanting to try it for quite awhile.
Awesome is an overstatement, IMO. Good food, select assortment of decent and interesting beer to chose from, but STERILE environment. So many more comfy places to hang out, not sure I'd go out of my way to come here again unless I was in the hood.
We had a couple of beer and ordered snacks, then left. A little over rated given he other awesome beer joints in town, but the food is really good. And they were serving the elusive, local, delicious Craftsman. -
Review from Daniel K.
Los Angeles, CA
5/4/2012 4 Check-ins Here
This place is AWESOME!
took me long enough to write this review... but here goes!
(I almost don't want to, but I can't be selfish!)
(please excuse the caps, I'm still trying to contain my excitement!!!)
Beer Belly is an AMAZING experience to anyone who can appreciate finely crafted beer! To say that their beers are worth trying, is an understatement! This place blows any other k-town bar out of the water. There is NO comparison when it comes to tickling my beer deprived taste buds! Their beers are collected from the far corners of the wondrously spectacular Califor-NI-AY breweries! I have never been to a place that serves so many differently MAGNIFICENT beers in a relaxed and chill location! Every time I come here, I've been flabbergasted with every beer on tap! If only there were enough words to describe my emotions after the first sip of beer, MAN this is a beautiful thing! The flavour in each beer BEGS me to keep drinking, I physically have to stop myself from pounding these beauts; to sit back and enjoy the full flavoured GODLINESS.
As if the beer wasn't enough to win me over... This place has some BOMB-ASS food! The Brussel sprouts? nothing short of UH-MAZE-INGGG! 4 Cheese Grilled-Cheese? the flavours are STILL partying in my mouth! Butter Milk Chicken? Slap-yo-mama DELICIOUS! Their Duck-fat Fries, OH MY LORDY! Their attention to satisfy every taste bud in my mouth was unforgettable! Their chef is a culinary GENIUS! mad props to the fella!
"Well the beer is good, and the so is the food, what about the service?" Is that what you're asking me right now? One word, S-P-E-C-T-A-C-U-L-A-R! get it? got it? gooood.
I had the pleasure (and luck) of meeting Jimmy, and his beautiful wife, Yumi, while visiting. The two were more than accommodating, chatting with me and laughing like we were old friends. I really felt relaxed and comfortable in the environment they created. Shoot, I came close to kicking off my work boots and throwing my coat on the rack, like at home!
I do believe that what makes this place so awesome, is that it is DIFFERENT from all the other BORING k-town bars. I've been to them all, Gaam, Hook, Biergarten, etc. etc. boring, lame, boring... Hipster bars, Downtown LA bars, meh, pfft, meh... Beer Bellly does its own thang, and I ought to slap you for ignoring them! Give them a try and cross "GO TO AN AMAZING GASTROPUB" off your bucket list. srsly guys, what a complete GEM!
In short, the beer is RIDIC! The food is EPIC! Service is SLICK! and you'll have nothing short of a GRRRRRREAT time here! :) -
Review from Angela S.
5/17/2012
Sorry, I'd rather go to Biergarten. It's larger, the fries aren't dripping grease, they have more food options and there's more than 2 people working. On the plus side, it's kinda cool to choose the music?
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Review from Drew B.
Los Angeles, CA
5/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Good to see that Koreatown is getting inventive and creative with food and decor. This spots is not only a great hang out for locals ( and I don't just mean Korean, but those who live in and around what use to be know as Midtown). I think this place use to be a auto repair shop, now it's this simple L shape building with bright arrows. The left one says "Drink" and the right one says "Park". The wood panel wall and modern plastic chair make this place, a very aesthetically pleasing spot to eat at. The Duck Fat Fries are so amazing, but not as bad for you and taste so good as the fried Bring it Ktwon, get down!
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Review from jonathan g.
Tustin, CA
4/30/2012
I get why they make you order up at the bar, but when it's crowded it can be a total pain. You know those K-town buttons on the tables.. usually I think it's pointless, but it would be perfect for a place like this.
Other than that minor complaint, good and reasonably priced craft beers and some interesting food. I only had the grilled cheese but based on that I'd like to try some other items. And having easy parking for the area is greatly appreciated. -
Review from Monica W.
Los Angeles, CA
5/8/2012
Ok, wait. You're going to let me control the music inside this awesome place with an app, THEN you'll let me order a craft beer sampler AND a Fried Twinkie, with Duck Fat Fries to complete the insanity that's about to go down in my stomach?
*mind blown*
The beer was delicious, and you decide how your sampler will be made up which made for a nice variety. The Twinkie was gooey and soft and immediately torn up by my party - we don't play. As for the duck fat fries. they're pretty rich, but hit that greasy spot and dare I say, melt in your mouth a little bit. I'm a fan, yo.
One star off for the disorganized "free-for-all" seating and the distracted hostess (at least when we were there) and having to order at the bar, otherwise this place is pretty amazing.
Oh this stuff is important too:
Parking - Lot, free, in KTown, I know!
Prices - Reasonable, I think I pay more for lattes around here than I did the beer sampler -
Review from Renuka V.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 5/13/2012
Went there around 6pm yesterday(Sat) for early dinner and the place was full. Had the special for the day-ham hock braised in IrishRed with tomatillo marinated in cherry cola and a porter from El Segundo - both were very good indeed! Also had the grilled brocolli which was ok too.Hope the ham hock becomes part of their regular menu.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/21/2011
Went to the opening last night and to be honest, was quite disappointed with the list of beers on… Read more »
Comment from Jimmy H. of Beer Belly 5/27/2011
Hi Renuka, Just wanted to thank you for coming in. We… More » -
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Review from Drew S.
Los Angeles, CA
a recurring theme in my reviews tends to be around beer selection, and beer belly has a fantastic one. not the cheapest place in the world, but very very good.
i'm a buffalo wing fanatic and theirs are awesome. i got the buffalo bleu cheese wings and loved them. very simple buffalo sauce but they're wings, who wants anything fancy anyway.
totally recommend, wait staff was amazingly nice sociable. -
Review from Nit A.
San Diego, CA
5/14/2012 3 photos
Love the Sunday brunch. The pairings are perfect! The waffle and chicken was good. If you like craft beers, this is the place to visit.
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Review from Wasin L.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 4/2/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I can't believe they took out the pork belly skewers from their menu! If Beer Belly, still served it, it might just be my favorite gastropub. Regardless, it's still up there and earns a rare five stars from me.
Came here to celebrate a friend getting a job last week. It was during the Lakers game so the place was packed. Somehow, the server managed to get us a seat in a few minutes and off to the bar we went to order our food and drinks. Started off with a black market hef instead of ale this time. One of the cleanest beers I've ever had. I'm not a beer guy so my friends were surprised I finished my drink before they did. That has never happened before. Loads of other selections on tap and bottles. A couple of memorable ones from that night were the Mystique (or something like that) and the Yeti, which is quite a stronger, darker more bitter tasting beer.
Honestly, if this place just served drinks, I wouldn't actually come here all that often. But the food here is amazing. Duck fat fries is a must (and of course you need to get the duck confit that you can supplement with it). Their grilled cheese with bacon is simply amazing. The asiago, gruyere, and goat cheese go so well together. The catfish and shrimp is delicious as well. Shrimp gumbo tartar sauce.. mmm. And of course half and half of the buffalo blue and bbq volcano chipotle for the jidori wings. Yup, this is definitely the dishes you want to get every single time you come here.
As for desserts, I normally go for the fried oreos. The way the oreo cookie is melted inside the batter and then eaten with the ice cream. Wow. Fried twinkies arent half bad either. This time around we ended up getting the fried oatmeal cream pie as well. Like everything else, this dessert did not disappoint.
So if you and your friends need a place to come kick it and eat some good food while watching the game, this is the place to be. A part of four shouldn't run you over a bill after tip. Especially during happy hour. Unless of course you just love your beers and find the need to try many of their selections. Then I can't help your wallet there.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/9/2012
The first time I came to this place, it was for their fried oreos. I was so impressed with that one… Read more »
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Review from Jerome V.
Calorie counters - welcome to your nightmare. Everyone else? GO NUTS.
Beer Belly serves up some delicious gastropub fare, most notably their Duck Fat Fries. Just the right proportion of crispy outside and moist inside with a flavor that's out of this world. I've had their Fish & Chips and, like the rest of their entrees, it's doled out in generous portions and unhealthily delicious.
I will say that their gargantuan interpretation of the Grilled Cheese is a sight to behold and a marvel to consume - I dare you to jam that whole thing in at once.
The place is usually busy, making the medium-sized venue sort of cramped, but the wait is never too bad. And yes, there is beer, but I'm not a connoisseur of the hoppy stuff so all I can say is they have a substantial and substantially varied selection.
Seriously though - the food alone is worth the trip. Just wear the stretchy pants. -
Review from Katie E.
Los Angeles, CA
4/25/2012
MY FAVORITE BAR!
I'm from the east coast and I was looking for a good bar to claim as my local place to go. I have lived in LA for a year and finally after moving to Koreatown I found this gem.
First off it has an amazing exterior with graffiti all over it. Second the food is amazing. Since I found this place, I have gone to their sunday brunch for the past 4 sundays in a row.
I hesitate to put up a review because I love it so much I don't want to share it! -
Review from Kamie P.
Los Angeles, CA
3/29/2012
So happy I found this place! My friend and I were looking to try a bar in Ktown for once because we never go there even though it's close by. I was expecting to only find really Korean places, like the ones where you probably shouldn't go to unless you bring a Korean friend. Thankfully, we found Beer Belly and it was awesome! Cute craft beer bar tucked inside from the street. Look for the Boba place and make a right into the lot right after it!
They've got great beer flights. The owner was super friendly and helpful, and chose great beers for us to try. My favorite was the Mischief. The duck fat fries + confit were great, but more than the fries, I loved the raspberry mustard sauce it came with (can you guys please bottle that and sell it??). The super spicy buffalo wings with the sauces on the side are a must. Again, the sauces here make the dish a win!
Everything on the menu is reasonably priced and the place just has a chill, laid-back, local vibe. Can't wait to pay Beer Belly another visit again soon! -
Review from Taffy W.
Los Angeles, CA
4/12/2012
I'm so happy that LA has Beer Belly. Amazing selection of great beers on tap, happy hour specials, great vibe, it takes a lot to impress a beer snob like me.
And then there's the food. I hated it. But that's just me. Jerome V. (Reviewed 6 April) is totally right, I'm a calorie counter and it was my worst nightmare! I tried what I could....ugh...that took a lot outa me.
However, belly bustin' grease lovers, you now have a valhalla of wonderfood! Duck fat fries are exactly as described with *BONUS* grease puddle on the bottom. Even the chicken strips are glistening with battered oily love! Don't pass up those ice cream oreo things...my pal thought they were so good he had two orders! -
Review from Kathy D.
3/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
GRILLED CHEESE:
Wow! If you love cheese as much as I love cheese. YOU MUST EAT THIS!
What a burst of strange, but magnificent flavors! A little sweet, a little salty, and a lot of cheesy but 100% amazing.
DUCK FAT FRIES:
I've seen reviews rave about it... not that big of a fan unless you really like the taste of fat because you can definitely taste fat in every fry. I prefer truffle fries anyday! -
Review from Sane C.
3/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
If you're not a fatass before you come here, you'll definitely leave feeling like one. I've already been growing my beer belly for years so coming here was no different from any other day. Here's what we got: duck fat fries, fried chicken strips, buffalo wings both the blue cheese & spicy one, braised short ribs something, grilled broccoli w/ cheese, the grilled cheese, and to top it off, the deep fried twinkie. Didn't think any of the plates WOW'd. Everything was decent beer food, fatty and salty. They did have a good selection of beers though.
Maybe if I were younger I would've enjoyed this place. Now, I don't wanna find my own seats or be bugged by others asking if we're almost done so they could sit, I don't wanna be bumped by others because its too crowded (this place is pretty small), and I don't wanna keep going up to a bar to order more food or beer. This kinda stuff was fun when I was a college student but not anymore. I'd rather pay more and be serviced now, I guess I'm just getting old. -
Review from Richard K.
Los Angeles, CA
3/8/2012 2 Check-ins Here
My wife told me not to review this place because she knows the owners through one of her friends... and I guess I kind of do too. However, what else is Yelp for then constructive criticism? So... minus the F-bombs, here I go...
Beer Belly (BB) is tucked away on the eastern side of Western Avenue behind Iota and I Love Boba. It's the building with the awesome graffiti on it. It's not that big of a place and by my estimations the entire bar area excluding the kitchen and restrooms is less than 1,000 square feet. Therefore, be prepared for an intimate setting and if you are unlucky, be prepared to stand because BB gets packed.
Although BB is in Koreatown and its owner is Korean, almost nothing about this place is Korean. I loved the un-Koreanness because there are hardly enough gastropubs or bars in Koreatown that serve beer beyond Hite, Cass, and OB. In fact the only thing that I could find Korean about this place was that the non-Korean chef for BB had won the Koreatown BBQ cook-off. Furthermore, the crowd is very diverse and it is quite the testament to Yelp's affect on dining/drinking establishments and the changing demographics of the Koreatown area.
LOL, that sure was a lot of "Korean" for one paragraph.
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The Food
Aside from their duck fries with raspberry compote dipping sauce and deep fried oreos, I think the whole menu is subject to change. For example, I really wanted to try the catfish and chips, but every time I've been to BB it wasn't on the menu. I guess allowing the chef total freedom is an interesting concept, but when it comes to food I want some sort of consistency (especially when fellow Yelpers rave about it). Alas, while I still yearn to try their fish and chips, the food that I have tried such as the spicy chicken wings and grilled cheese sandwich with maple syrup and bacon were really good.
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The Beer
Just like the food, the beers that they have on tap are subject to change. Therefore, it's anybody's guess as to what craft beer they will be serving each night. Again, this is an interesting concept if you liked the randomness of not knowing what the prize in your crackerjacks was. However, as a beer addict, I guess I can appreciate BB's unsystematic beer menu because it allows patrons to sample a new beer upon each visit. However, if you prefer routines and a more static menu, this may not work for you.
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Conclusion
Yelp's 4-star rating is dead on. I definitely think there is room for improvement and my suggestion would be to ink in the more popular food and beer items permanently. I really like gastropubs opening all over LA because it gives me one more excuse to drink beer.
BB's namesake is quite appropriate because Beer Belly is definitely not helping with my f--king beer belly. Pretty soon I'll just change my names to Chubbbs.
* You need to order food and drinks at the bar.
** Not good for large parties due to the size of BB.
*** Duck fat fries are fatty and salty so don't expect healthy. Regardless, the fries pair well with any of their beers. Just don't add the optional duck meat for an additional cost (didn't like).
**** BB serves local craft beers - I think all their beers are from California.Listed in: Good Drinking Places
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Review from Robert A.
3/22/2012
Oh Beer Belly, you've ruined me for other craft beer bars, gastropubs, and whatever other flash-in-the-pan name we're using these days.
Your food is delicious! Your duck fat fries taste way better than the name suggests and for $4 both me and my wallet are happy. Throw in some $6 wings (hint: go for the Volcano Chipotle & Buffalo Blue Cheese mix) and I'm in fat kid heaven.
The best part? Your craft brews! Last night you showcased Golden Road and they did not disappoint. Both the Hef and Either Side of the Hill were phenom (yes, I said phenom). During HH (5-7pm) they were $1 off -- shoot, I'll drink to that, BeerBelly -- but even regular pricing was reasonable. Oh, and the next One Night Stand is with Bootlegger's Brewery -- I'm in!
This place gets packed around 6:30/7 (with reason!) so get here before then to get a parking spot and/or table. It gets loud, too, but after a few beers you really don't notice or care.
Well played, Beer Belly...well played. -
Review from Joanne S.
Los Angeles, CA
4/10/2012
Ohhhh Beer Belly.
There's a reason why you decided to call yourself that.
I'm glad.
Beers: Good picks, didn't like, knock me out of my socks, but they've got your local curiosity fulfilled.
I am what I like to consider a try-anything-once kind of girl. For instance, being that my BF is Chinese, I tried Duck, annnd hated it. So when the recommendation of DUCK FAT FRIES came about, I was hesitant. But Beer Belly, you have changed my mind of duck fat, and confit even, for that matter. It was delicious and that's all I can say about that.
Second, deep fried oreos. That's also all I have to say about that.
But most of all... that damn evil, malicious grilled cheese so freaking amazing you think it has a hidden agenda. But it doesn't. Just gives you lots of flavor love. If you're on a diet, don't come here, please.
But if you're a self-indulgent son of a gun, then by all means, eat that damn grilled cheese!!!! -
Review from Daniel K.
3/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Dropped by to grab a quick drink with some friends. I had passed by this place a few times before and finally found an excuse to check it out. I was looking for a wheaty beer, and the almanac winter wit seriously hit the spot. Awww so refreshing! They also have a beer flight for $10 where you can try 5 oz beers x 4.
We got some of the duck fat fries along with our drinks. It came with a raspberry based dipping sauce that was pretty addictive! The fries were awesome, crisp and well-seasoned. And with happy hour from 5-7pm everyday, the bill was pretty reasonable. $4 fries and $1 off all beers.
If you're looking for some local craft beer with innovative bites, hit this place up! But it's not the most spacious, so probably not the best place to take a large group :PListed in: Lounge Like A Grown-Up
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Review from Noah A.
Los Angeles, CA
4/3/2012
Met a friend here for dinner last night, and I was impressed by their very reasonable prices, good selection of beer, and effective - though limited - menu selection.
In terms of ambiance, you're not getting much. Think of Father's Office, but... smaller. Suffice to say it was pretty packed which could make service a frustrating experience, but it thinned out as the night want on. For me, elbow room when enjoying brews and snacks is important. Also, the noise level was high and could often not hear what the person sitting 3 feet away from my face was saying.
Now, the FOOD. Yes, I had the duck fat fries and the hot wings. People on Yelp are raving about the fries as if they're truffles sprinkled with unicorn blood. Not the case. They are French Fries with duck fat sprinkled on them. Is it GOOD? Yes, and extra points given for the dipping sauce. But it certainly isn't the amazing confection many have made it out to be. Trendy people tend to suffer from cognitive biases to a fault, and I suspect for some reason that's happening here. As for the hot wings, they were quite salty. However, there was something about them I really enjoyed. The skin was fried just right, the meat within was supple, and underneath the salt, the buffalo sauce had a decent flavor to it. I was surprised to find the ranch dressing to be completely bland and tasteless, though. After denying myself the impulse to keep dipping the wings, I just avoided it altogether.
The beer selection is good! Modest, but well though out. Lots of great beers on NOS, and nicely organized into price ranges.
So yeah, overall quite pleasant. All gastro pubs are becoming one big bland mess of same ole same ole, but there are always at least a few things that stand out. Beer Belly was a pleasant experience. I look forward to trying out the duck French dip and grilled cheese. -
Review from Kim H.
Los Angeles, CA
5/12/2012
The beer selection isn't bad and the atmosphere is small and quaint. The grilled cheese is really good. The duck fat fries are just okay. I'd definitely stay away from the catfish.
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Review from Arden C.
3/5/2012
Strolled in here on a weekday evening with some friends who are regulars. I can't believe I've never been here before! I feel like it could turn into a regular spot. It's really chill, great place to chat/drink/grub with friends.
The Craft beers are great and I love that all the girls working are super nice. The owners wife is GORGEOUS, I wanted to introduce her to my guy friends but was sad to find out she's married. Seriously, she's the most stunning woman in LA.
Anyways back to the review. The mac and cheese w/ bacon was BOMB, the Brussel Sprouts were good (made me feel less guilty about all the fried food I was eating), fried chicken was alright - not the best but not bad.
I'll have to go back to try more food next time. -
Review from Mike D.
Los Angeles, CA
3/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
Very happy I finally went to this little gem! We got the Buffalo & Blue wings and they were some of the best wings I've ever had. The grilled broccoli was nice and tasty. The orzo mac was so cheesy and rich, but because the orzo was small, it seemed lighter than it actually was. The braised short rib with puff pastry was succulent with a nice spice kick to it. It was almost like a pulled pork sandwich.
Great beer selection, nice and friendly guys working, and the music choice was just my style. They even let you vote for the music if you have an iPhone. Very democratic. The place was small and a little difficult to find, but I liked the overall vibe. Awesome experience and am looking forward to my return trip. -
Review from Joyce R.
Los Angeles, CA
3/16/2012 1 photo
I'd actually give it 3 1/2 stars. I liked it! Didn't LOVE it. I let the Yelp reviews hype it up too much.
Beer flights are awesome. Very wide variety which i love! Manifesto is so good!
The duck fat fries aren't all they're cracked up to be. :/ They're just like their regular fries served with a tiny bit of crispy duck fat sprinkled across.
Needless to say, we had a lot of fries because we got the fish & chips too, which was nicely battered and tasty!
Tried to have an open mind about the grilled cheese with maple syrup but the sweetness killed the savory goodness of it all, for me.
Their buffalo blue wings are yummy but TINY! I mean they're the smallest wings I've ever seen in my life. For real.
You can get MUCH better brussels and broccoli at another LA gastropub.
BUT their fried desserts are AMAZZZZEEEEEBALLS. Fried oreos are my absolute fav served with chocolate chip ice cream. Sinfully delicious. Fried oatmeal was mehh (too healthy tasting haha), I mean if you're gonna eat a fried dessert, go all out! Oreos and twinkies are the way to go! -
Review from Amy T.
Los Angeles, CA
4/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
one of my go to places in Koreatown.
great beer, food, people
a parking lot! this is a huge selling point for a bar located in k town.
the music remote app is really fun too. -
Review from Yesenia V.
Los Angeles, CA
5/4/2012
Great after work happy hour pub. They serve brussel sprouts and broccoli with a delicious sauce if you haven't had your veggies for the day but try their duck fat fries. The prices are reasonable and not crowded before 7pm. Parking is free.
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Review from Fiona D.
2/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
The duck fat fries are seriously as good as everyone says they are.
You simply HAVE to get the confit on them too. Death by Duck all the way!
The salty leg meat goes so well with the crispy fried potatoes. mmm-MMM! Definitely a heavy, oily dish, but sooo totally worth it.
Pairing it with a nice, lighter beer is a good choice in my opinion. I chose to get a flight so I could try a few different beers but was quite partial to the rose petal one...I can't recall the name but it was definitely my favorite.
I love how small and intimate this place is, the wait staff is super friendly and all the food is AWESOME. Definitely recommend the pork belly mac and of course, DUCK FAT FRIES!
The parking situation though I could see as being a bit of an issue on a busy night but I lucked out on Sunday and beat the crowd.
Also, if you have an i-Phone you can chose a song to listen to through their crazy futuristic jukebox system. Most people were picking some good tunes so I was enjoying it.
I cannot wait to come back!!
Also ladies, if you're single, make sure to give 'Chef Wes' a call.
His number is written in chalk in the women's restroom ;) -
Review from justin g.
Commack, NY
4/30/2012
Upon finished brunch, I turned to my friend and remarked "it will be a shame when this place becomes too popular for us to go to." Get some while you still can.
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Review from Tiffany T.
Marina del Rey, CA
5/12/2012
A friend of mine invited me to this place a few nights ago and reluctantly I went. I say reluctantly because my friend told me it was a gastropub and I'm not much of a beer drinker. However I'm so happy I ended up agreeing to come because the entire experience was AMAZING!!!!! The best part is that they serve wine now too! They have several reds and my favorite, Rose Cava! Not to mention the food was out of this world! I had the BB grilled cheese and the duck fat fries, YUMMY!!!!!! I highly recommend this place, it's def worth the drive from the West side!
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Review from Nicole L.
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Beer&deep fried food, what could be better! :)
PARKING: Valet, or limited street in the residential area? The valet guy was really nice! &it was FREE!
FOOD: My friends ordered the grilled cheese, duck fat fries (minus duck confit), brussel sprouts, and mac&cheese. The duck fat fries were delicious and SUPER oily. This definitely isn't a place you want to go when you're trying to keep up your new year's resolution. The fries are served with a red sauce that I'm still trying to figure out! It's slightly grainy and vinegary yet acts as the perfect pairing for these fries. The grilled cheese is phenomenal, a MUST order! I would suggest ordering the fries and grilled cheese, then ordering two beers. You're good! :) Brussel sprouts are apparently the new broccoli (which they also serve) and had a great flavor punch to them.
DRINKS: They have a variety of craft beer on tap. I personally loved the 1903, but I'm more of a pale ale kind of girl. The cream ale is super sweet and light!
SERVICE: We were a bit confused as to how the seating arrangement works. I came in a group of 5, and we had to wait about 30 minutes for an open table. There's not a designated hostess, but the girl at the bar kindly assisted us. This place is similar to Father's Office mentality of free for all seating, but there's a bit of a system. Check in at the bar first!
At Beer Belly, you're the DJ (if you have an iPhone)! You can suggest music for their playlist, and if other people agree that your music taste is awesome, the song plays! Wootwoot.
Contrary to what Yelp says, I wouldn't suggest this place for groups. I would say come in a group of 3 max so seating is a bit more flexible! -
Review from Hong K.
Alhambra, CA
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
The duck fries are really good. Their beer selection is great. They don't have a fixed selection of beer so you can taste lots of mirco brews. The lack of parking and seating is a problem on a busy night. I advise you to come a bit early to grab a spot to sit with your friends.
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Review from Rick K.
4/11/2012
Interesting gastropub. I see how they are trying to cater towards a younger hipster crowd. Though the place is fairly small, it is not bad for a small get together (6 people tops). Since they seem to focus on the food they make, it would be apropos to talk about it a little bit. Duck Fries with raspberry savory sauce? I see where they are going with it... duck fat carries good flavor and the acidity of the raspberry sauce is suppose to balance that. Okay. Maple syrup grilled cheese sandwich? Very Southern. Bleu cheese buffalo wings? Very American. All in all, the food isn't bad. Innovative might be a stretch, but it is definitely creative. I personally liked the wings, but I could pass on everything else. The duck fries felt greasy (even for french fries), and I have mixed feelings about the sauce. Maple syrup grilled cheese sounded like something out of Paula Deen's cookbook. I forgot what kind of cheeses they used. Whatever it is, it was probably overshadowed by the sweetness of the syrup. The wings were excessively salty for me... I would recommend regular fried wings with sauce on the side. That way it doesn't get soggy, the customers can actually control the flavor profiles a little more and the business doesn't have to use so much sauce.
Deep fried desserts? Me thinks not. For the summer, I'd be much more inclined to go for a Vanilla bean Panna Cotta w/ citrus sauce, Breadpudding (think about all those leftovers from the bakery next door... they'd make wonderful breadpudding ingredients), Individual mini triffles, or an espresso ice cream (all of which fullfilling their purpose as easy unique palate cleansers).
At least the music isn't obnoxiously loud. 3.5 stars. -
Review from Stephanie F.
Millbrae, CA
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here on a Friday evening with friends during a getaway weekend to LA. We ordered our beers before 7pm, so we got $1 off for happy hour! My choice, the hef, was delicious. Service was great and friendly too.
We definitely went all out on our food, skipping the veggies, and ordered the pork belly chips, duck fat fries, grilled cheese, and fish 'n chips. All of it was pure fatty goodness-- perfect after a long week.
The pork belly and grilled cheese were probably my favorite. The grilled cheese was an interesting combo but worked, plus I seem to like salty/sweet dishes.
Definitely glad my LA friends introduced me to this little hidden gem.
