Hamjipark, a neighborhood staple for decades that drew diners near and far for its spicy marinated pork ribs, is relaunching as Sandeomi Hamjipark.
The revival comes roughly two months after the two original Hamjipark locations on 6th Street and Pico Boulevard abruptly closed in late 2025, leaving customers wondering why the beloved restaurant was leaving.
The new restaurant will be managed by Sixth Avenue Hospitality, a Koreatown-based restaurant group that owns and operates several popular spots in the neighborhood, including Quarters Korean BBQ, Lasung Tofu, Rok Coffee and Tea and Moohan Korean BBQ.
Harry Park, head of marketing at Sixth Avenue Hospitality, said the group decided to step in after seeing how disappointed customers were following the restaurant’s sudden closure.
“When they said they were going to close, I could feel that the customers were very disappointed, so we thought, ‘Is there any way we can do something about this?’ and then we got connected and ended up taking it over to operate it,” he said.
Park said the team sees Sandeomi Hamjipark as a fresh start rather than just reopening an old restaurant.
“I want to stress that we are opening anew rather than just reopening,” he said.
Sandeomi Hamjipark’s website reads, “Following the closing of the original Ham Ji Park in late 2025, we set out to create a new space that carries forward the spirit of a place long remembered by the community.”
“Sandeomi” means a “mountain” or “heap” of something, and Park said the name refers to the generous portions of meat the restaurant will serve.
Sixth Avenue Hospitality built its reputation in Koreatown through Korean barbecue restaurants, beginning with Baekjeong KBBQ and Ahgassi Gopchang before expanding with Quarters and Moohan. In the past year, the company has broadened its portfolio to include more Korean cuisine concepts such as Lasung, Park said.
The group plans to operate Sandeomi Hamjipark at both of the restaurant’s former locations. Both sites are currently under construction. Park said the 6th Street restaurant is expected to open first, followed by the Pico Boulevard location at a later date.
Park said the group plans to preserve Hamjipark’s legacy while adding its own flair.
“We plan to keep the original recipes while also introducing some new menu items,” he said, adding that some former kitchen staff have returned.
News of the restaurant’s return was first reported by Korean-language publication KNEWSLA.
Hamjipark was founded by the late chef and owner Kim Hwa-shin, and built its reputation on its pork ribs and gamjatang, a spicy pork neck-bone stew. Its spicy marinated pork ribs, which the late Los Angeles Times critic Jonathan Gold called “crisp, beautifully caramelized and not too sweet,” helped make the restaurant a frequent stop for diners from and outside the neighborhood.
The restaurant’s sudden closure in December surprised many regular customers. In a message posted to Instagram at the time, the owners thanked patrons and reflected on the restaurant’s long history in the community.
“Hamjipark has always been more than a restaurant,” the post read, “it has been a gathering place, a familiar comfort and a home for so many of you who have become part of our story.”
The message did not provide details about why the restaurant closed and staff declined to answer questions at the time.