GFFG Hospitality, a Seoul-based restaurant group, is preparing to introduce two concepts to Los Angeles: Hojokban and Knotted.
Hojokban debuted in New York City last year through a partnership with Hand Hospitality, a Korean-owned restaurant group. The South Korean restaurant will open in Los Angeles’s Arts District at 734 East Third Street under GFFG Hospitality, according to Eater Los Angeles. On top of that, the building on East Third Street will also house Knotted, a GFFG Hospitality concept that offers cream-filled doughnuts. The chain has 16 locations in South Korea. Knotted and Hojokban are expected to open in early 2025.
Both concepts will be led by GFFG Hospitality’s director of brand strategy, Amber Koh, who tells Eater that GFFG Hospitality looked for years to find the ideal location before landing in the Arts District. Soon, Hojokban will offer Angelenos a variety of traditional Korean dishes, such as Shin Ramyun-topped fried rice, honey Korean fried chicken, sliced garlic pork jowl, and more. For Knotted, customers can expect a variety of delicious, but not too sweet, cream-filled donuts. This will be the first time both concepts debut in Los Angeles.
“Hojokban draws its inspiration from the traditional dining table known as’ Hojokban,’ which was traditionally used to greet cherished guests in Korea,” according to the company’s website. “This brand has been conceived from the deep-rooted passion and genuine sentiments of Koreans towards the art of dining, the significance it holds, and its profound connection to food. In Korean culture, a meal is not just sustenance; it represents the soul essence of our being. We aspire for all our visitors to sense our care and dedication to each plate, extending far beyond just a meal. We introduced subtle yet creative twists to traditional Korean cuisine for diverse palates.”
