A Late Night Korean Kitchen Lights Up the Convoy District

A new arrival to the Convoy District focuses on Korean-style comfort food with contemporary twists given to traditional dishes. Led by owner Sun Park, DalBam Moon Night Korean Kitchen (dalbam translates to “moon night.”), the casual restaurant also gives the Kearny Mesa area another late-night dining option, staying open until 1 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday and midnight on Sundays. “My friends and I wanted to eat late, but there aren’t many places available,” Park tells Eater.

The cozy 1,100-square-foot restaurant, with partially enclosed booths and large tables, can seat over 30 people.

Helen I. Hwang

Popular dishes include maeun cheese dakgui (spicy stir-fried chicken with cheese), bossam (marinated boiled pork belly), and jokbal (marinated steamed pork feet). And one of Park’s relatives prepares fresh banchan each morning with items like dried tofu, mushrooms, and kimchi.

Another specialty is kimchi jjigae stew with a rack of tender spare ribs. “My dad actually gave me this idea,” Park tells Eater. “I learned so many kitchen secrets from him.”

His father, Hyun Soo Park, is the chef at the adjacent Grandma Tofu and Korean BBQ, where the younger Park grew up working. Park’s extended family members currently operate a number of establishments on Convoy Street and the nearby area, including Cross Street Chicken and Beer, Olleh Convoy Korean BBQ, Monsta Ramen Curry, Friend’s House Korean, Pho Duyen Mai, and Sunday Ice Cream.

Helen I. Hwang

With soju, flavored soju, Sapporo on draft, and Korean beer in bottles on the menu pair well with drink-friendly options like pajeon, or savory Korean pancakes, plus bulgogi fries, deep fried chicken gizzards, and sharable hot pots including spicy army stew with ramen, kimchi, pork, sausages, Spam, tofu, and vegetables.

Park tells Eater that he’s focusing on this Convoy restaurant for now, but may open another location down the line.

Helen I. Hwang