Karnak

I don’t know this place but they did not let us in. I think because we are not korean. Fuck this place

it was ok expect to spend 2 to 3 bills and hopefully u go on a night where it’s not just old ladies and businessmen… bc that seemed to be the demographic when I came here

I don’t even know where to begin. It’s a big place, but 99% of it are filled up with sitting booths. That other one percent is shared between a small dance floor (with a decent DJ, although music overall was a bit too loud) and a poor excuse for a bar (basically only serves expensive bottles, no drinks). Men who got themselves some bottles will also be having the staff pushing down female guests down their booths. Bizarre and degrading.

I frequently check Unilocal for recommendations and reviews and never write anything, but had to make an account, so I can disclose about how bad my experience was over the past weekend at this wack ass club.
Long story, but i’ll make it as detailed and short as possible.
A few friends and I decided to go clubbing here around 11:30 over the weekend.
We were waiting in front of the line and talked to the manager/​waiter (whoever he was) for bottle service/​table deals. He gave us an offer of 1 bottle of crown including a table for $ 100 between the 3 of us. We thought that was a great deal and accepted his offer. As soon as we got into the club, we just wanted to turn back around and leave because this place was just dead. About ¹⁄₅ of the tables were booked and there was nobody on the dance floor even though it was the prime time of the night. We thought since we got such a good deal, we should stay and see how the night goes. About 30 – 45 minutes pass and the club hasn’t gotten any better and still just flat out dead.
We decided to leave and asked for the bill. At this time, there was only 2 of us present when the bill came out, my other friend was outside the club smoking a cigarette. Between me and my friend, we had $ 140 cash that we left at the table. The 2 of us stepped outside to meet with our 3^rd friend to talk about the bill and discuss if we should leave more for tip. One second we’re talking about the payments and the next second one friend is getting head locked and choked by a security guard. During this time, things are escalating between the security staff and the 3 of us. The remaining security staff rushes outside and a few of them are shaking up their pepper spray canisters getting ready to spray somebody. A lot of shuffling, grabbing, and arguing happening for a few minutes, then everybody gradually calms down to a point where we can be civil and talk. Now, I’ve been clubbing many many times, but this was the first time that I have ever been treated this way from a club.
After calming down, I tried to talk to the manager to see of a solution he can come up with. No apologies were said and no offers/​service to make up for what has happened. He claimed that we had not paid a single penny and we were trying to book it. I explained to him that if this is how he deals with this type of situation, it was the wrong way and customers will know about this. As stubborn as he was, he didn’t give a damn and told me to go ahead and tell everyone I could. At this point, I’m starting to think if they mistook us for another group or were trying to take advantage of a few guys who were buzzed. Either way, the situation wasn’t getting resolved, so we ended up calling the cops. Cops came and interviewed both sides involved. After staying around for a few minutes and talking about the situation, the cops took the clubs side and made us cough up the balance that was supposedly not paid for. We were so fed up and tired with the bullshit we have been through, my friend, who was smoking the cigarette, gave his credit card to the manager/​waiter to charge and get it over with. Cops then notify us that everything is handled and we are now banned from this club. They tell us to leave and not come back.
We later found out the club has charged my buddy’s card $ 300 for a $ 100 night. Yes, it is currently under dispute.
If you and your friends are thinking of partying at this club, just know what type of night you could be in for. Few quick reasons I will not come back…
1. Spent a total of $ 440, for a $ 100 night
2. Unprofessional
3. Club is dead
4. No customer service
Club being dead should already be a main reason not to go, but consider the other ones I’ve been through.
Fuck Karnak.
Thanks for reading.

My first time here. I’m not Korean, but I am Asian. I came here with a few of my friends who are Korean and spoke the language. I have to say, the experience was interesting! My last specs of comments is the interesting part so keep reading. However, I would NOT be comfortable going here without someone who knows how to speak Korean. But that’s just me.
Anyways, so here is my experience…
Employees: Employees appeared to be all Korean. They spoke to me in Korean, and I just nod like I know what they are saying… Hahah.
Crowd: Majority of the crowd are also Korean. However, not even half the place was filled up, so I wouldn’t know what it would be like if it was… Either this place is just going down hill… or like an employee said «Oh it’s because of the Memorial weekend…» Half the people I spoke with spoke some or very little English. The other half actually knew English very well. Crowd appeared to be in their 30s or 40s. One person I spoke to told me this club is for older people when I told him how old I was. I’m only 26. XD
Dance floor: it was on a small side, but yes it is there if you feel like dancing.
Booths/​private rooms: There were a lot of booths! A couple of private rooms. But dang, a lot of booths! Booths were U-​shaped. I’m told that you need to reserve a table (booth) if you even want to get into this club. In other words, sort of like bottle service. Can’t just magically waltz in like the typical American clubs where you get on the guestlist for free. Depending on the package you get, you typically get some fruits, cokes, bottle waters, and some sort of bottle of alcohol.
DJ: yep… there was a DJ. Not bad. One thing that was disappointing though, I was expecting to hear Korean music! I might have heard a couple throughout the night, but that was it. *sad face*
Booking: Now THIS was INTERESTING. Lol. Be prepared… If you don’t know what it is… then now you do. Yes, this is a cultural thing. What the employees will do is drag you to other tables and maneuver you to sit next to a guy/​girl or between the guys/​girls. In other words, they sort of force you to socialize. Lol. Yes, they will continually do that throughout the night. I am unsure whether people «pay» to have you dragged to their table or it’s part of their job to do so. But I can for certain say, the guy that was dragged to our table was not paid for. Lol. You can always forcefully say no, but they will try to drag you anyways. It is HILARIOUS when you see your friends getting drag and there is look of plea to save them. No worries, she’s fine. But still really funny. Still cracks me up. If they don’t drag you then…

This club is for older people. The DJ was no good and did not play my request for All of Me (!!). We came here for a bachelorette and I probably would not come back. The girls were not pretty and the guys were old! On the other hand, the staff is nice. I’d rather hang out at Gaam or S Bar than come here. Most of the people were Korean. Some of the guys looked like they came back from golf. ew.

Its okay here… the DJs are not that great… drinks are very expensive.
Dropped $ 160 and you have to tip your waiter alot.
Our waiter was KangHo Dong… and hes very nice and cool.
OVERALL: this place is okay… music is not that great… and drinks are very expensive… mostly koreans come here to meet other koreans. Dance floor is a bit small.

Karnak is probably one of Koreatown’s oldest clubs. It’s been around for quite a few years already, and it has not changed names since it first started.
The club itself seems a bit old and worn out. It definitely needs a facelift. There is a DJ and a live singer in the early hours when the club first opens its doors.
The music is okay. They don’t play much up to date music compared to the other places. I assume their plan is to cater to an older professional crowd in the late 20−30s age range.
The service is great whenever we go there. Our waitress is Ms. Song. She is probably one of the nicest lady waitresses around K-​Town. She will take care of you and make sure you enjoy the night. You book a table to be seated. There is a fresh fruit plate that is served, and you get to pick whatever kind of alcohol they have. We usually go Grey Goose because it’s the best mixing drink, and it’s perfect with chasers and the fruit plate.
Go check it out. It’s cool.

First time going to Korean club, I was not use to this booking service. The waiters kept on dragging me to random tables, I felt ackward. Bottle service price is way to expensive. The music they mainly play was hip hop and trance. They kept playing Gangnum style which is so played out must be a Korean pride thing lol… I went with couple of my guy friends that where not Korean and the waiters treated them like dirt.

I must wholeheartedly disagree with the reviewer below…
I dont come here anymore, but if I ever do, its only for the live music.

Old. Tired. Worn out. These are the words that come to mind when I think of Karnak. SO WHY DO i KEEP COMiNG BACK? o. O;;
$ 150 buy one, get one bottles before 10:30PM, that‘s why!
My boys love K-​clubs, so whenever I‘m down in LA it‘s a given that I‘m off to a K-​club on Friday and Saturday night. I love the fact that it‘s bottle service only and that you get a fruit platter and dried snacks. Don’t love that they water down the alcohol, but I guess they need to make money some way huh? LoLx I do love the fact that they comp us a bottle of champagne whenever it‘s someone‘s birthday. I lovee bubbly, even if it is the cheap kind! On my most recent birthday there, they comped me a bottle of bubbly AND a bottle of Goose! This was after we had bought 6 bottles of Goose for 2 tables and roughly15 people. Needless to say, I was SHiTFACE WASTED by 12:30AM.thought that was probably due to the fact that Sel and I killed a bottle of Goose to ourselves within the first hour of being there LoLx
Like all K-​clubs, Karnak does booking, so ladies BE PREPARED. Ms. Song is our waiter and she‘s awesome; she always takes care of us. There‘s also a live band that plays early on in the night til around 11:30PM or so. They need to take that band out back and put them [and US] of out of their misery, like Old Yeller. Besides the band, they play a mixture of hiphop and top 40, along with some Kpop slow jams thrown in. The décor is Egyptian themed as the name «Karnak» implies, with hierogyphs on the walls and Egyptian carved pillars. The booths are upholstered in a gaudy black and gold fabric that looks like it came out in the ‘70s. There are also private karaōke rooms lining the sides which I enjoy whenever we book one, except for the fact that you have to PAY for the music. They should just allow the music to be free since people are already paying for the alcohol and room.
Much like an ex-​boyfriend that all ties should be severed with, but that you can‘t help but go back to asking for MORE, I‘ll be back to Karnak again and again whenever I‘m in LA.

This place came highly recommended by my friends but they’re FOB Koreans and considering there are only 3 of these type of establishments in LA, its pretty much slim pickings.
Here’s how it went down.
You must have a contact in order to make reservations. My friends seem to go there at least twice a month so we treated differently.
Generally:
Pricing: $ 150 before 10pm and you have to arrive before 10pm otherwise they’ll charge you $ 200 afterwards.
$ 150 will get you a table and a bottle of Crown or Grey Goose. Anything else will cost extra. Another bottle will run you $ 100
$ 200 will get you a selection of Johnny Black or Crown Reserved. Another bottle will run you $ 100.
You’ll also receive a fruit platter, bottled water, ice, and 2 cans of coke.
Our waitress grabbed us the good stuff at a lower price. She must’ve been in her mid 40’s and very professional. My friends made a point to single me out as the «American guy» but she quickly made me feel welcomed and gave me her business card. Apparently she’s highly sought after because everyone considers her the matchmaker. She’s been to more weddings than she can count and the couples owe it all to her. AMAZING! So far so good but I still had my reservations about this place. Heck, I wouldn’t mind drinking with her but my friends thought it was silly. +1
No one gets booked until the house think its filled with enough people. Our waitress didn’t wait and proceeded to bring our first group of girls. It was so weird!!! Every girl I met didn’t feel degraded or treated like a heard of cattle. Everyone has an understanding about what they’re getting in to. I guess this is why you must have contact so as to avoid any surprises. My friends were getting annoyed with me because I kept apologizing to every girl before continuing with our conversations LoL!!!
Here’s the kicker. They have a live band who sang love ballads and rap, yes you heard me, RAP! Everything was in Korean but props to them for getting on stage. I swear they look like a group of college kids just doing it as a side gig to make rent. They also have a dance floor but no one was dancing. WTF?! I’m telling you it was surreal. A live band, dance floor, lights, and a fog machine but no one was dancing. I had to put a stop to it. I pitched the idea to a girl at our table and she was totally IN! So we got up on the floor and boogied out. We found it amusing that everyone was staring at us as if we were the odd ones out. She was a cool girl but her friends weren’t too happy with me. =(
I eventually got bored with all of it and headed outside for some air because this place allows smoking. YUCK! The bouncers were cool but they don’t care much for booking. We agreed that I would be way more enjoyable if a guy made the first move and not some mediator. +1
I eventually headed in to finish off the evening when I was pulled to a table! Oh my gawd!!! It was intimidating because it was with a group of 3 older ladies who appeared to be in their mid 40’s. Now I don’t know if it was the Johnny Walker or poor lighting but they were attractive. Unfortunately their English wasn’t the greatest so we just resorted to doing shots and they kept pinching my cheeks (ouch). It was interesting but I didn’t want to hurt their feelings and leave but fortunately my waitress noticed that I was there for too long and got me back to my friends. LoL!
The furniture needs to be updated or at least reupholstered. They have guards inside just in case shit goes down, which I can imagine considering every Korean male I’ve encountered seem to have a chip on their shoulder. I assumed it was from striking out.
My friends seem to really enjoy it because it reminds them of home. They assure me its way better in Korea and I believe them but I think this place could use some diversity. Kudos only goes to our hostess and the security guards outside. The people I’ve met that evening were cool but lets face it. Are we really going to find our significant other at this type of establishment? I would rather be the one engaging a conversation instead of having a handler do it for me. It was fun for what its worth but I doubt I’ll return. I think its easier to go in with good company and let that be a focal point for the evening. The girls who are brought to your table is just a little extra.
I could go on and on with more details but I think its enough.
TIP: Watch out for the professionals. By that I mean girls who are there just to suck down your booze. I couldnt figure it out but my friends knew what/​who to look for. These girls are hard to spot because they range from ridiculously HOT to the «girl next door». Rookies could get hustled.

I’ve gotten rug burn, multiple bruises, a concussion, and I was also inadvertently maced in the face from my 4 visits at this fine Korean establishment. I keep coming back for more because its super fun (and no, I’m not into sadistic sexual pleasures).
Everyone must order bottle service, so be prepared to get a bill of at least $ 150 plus tip. It basically works like this: girls are booked by waiters to tables with guys and the waiters get tipped mad $$$ at the end of the night. Girls may choose to stay at the table or scoff and leave depending on how ugly the guys at the table are.
To give you a better idea of what happens at this club, I present to you *censored* recollections of all of my visits so far:
1^st Visit: New Years Day 2011. I had never been to a Korean club and I was originally going to hit up my usual bars in Ktown but my old co-​workers told me to try this place out. It was deserted but I had a ton of fun talking to people, karaoking in the private rooms, and being special requested like a geisha. I felt like a star and left the place belligerently happy.
2^nd Visit: I was pissed off because I wanted to go to VR but my other friends came too late and we missed the promo table. Then I was going to the restroom and a waiter grabbed my wrist and proceeded to lead me over a step causing me to fall. He dragged me on the floor and I got rug burn from the carpet on my knee. When he realized I was on the floor he helped me up and then DUSTED OFF my dress like that will fix the situation. He sat me down at the table and I smacked him and told everyone at the table to fuck off.
3^rd Visit: Drank 16 shots of whiskey. I had episodes where I felt that I was Natalie Portman in the movie Black Swan. I’m not telling you what part of the movie and I will just let your imagination run wild.
4^th Visit: I arrived at 11pm and by this time its poppin and people are juiced up already (We usually get here around 10pm). I barely sat down at my table for 10 minutes before getting dragged to another table. Every time I got up I was snatched up by another waiter within 30 seconds… I was in a private room with many major Korean FOBs and then the next moment, I woke up in my bed.

First time at a Korean club. It’s so funny.
This place allows indoor smoking. I hate smoke. Be prepared to smell like cigarette smoke.
So I had a table of girls for a birthday party. Each table is $ 200 but you get a fruit platter and alcohol (a bit watered down). But hey, you ome for the experience of booking.
I wasn’t looking to be set up. I just wanted to see actual waiters and waitresses pull you back and forth and they totally did! I was very lucky. I got pulled to good looking guys tables so it wasn’t hard talking to them. It felt like we were speed dating but with alcohol. It was hilarious. most of the guys were tipsy, but I had great conversation with them and of course alcohol.
I don’t usually drink, so it was hard for me to take the shots given to me — especially since I was pulled from one table to another. I didn’t even see my friends for the rest of the time… Only when I RAN to my table and my girlfriends said DANCEFLOOR (they can’t get u there).
Then a fight broke loose. Near our table. I wish spoke Korean. I look Korean but I’m not Korean at all. You may get Korean born people and sometimes Korean American. If they’re rude, just leave. I actually had nice conversations with people but not looking to meet someone at a club.
Ambiance
Clubby with smoke
Music sucked
Waiters
They grab you but they aren’t mean. You tell them NOOO ifyou really not want to sit with someone… I saw a girl do that haha
I don’t speak Korean, so «I don’t understand» and walking away fast works too.
Crowd
Age varies
I talked to people who were early 20s to early 30s.
Korean mostly
Overall
Interesting experience
The smoking killed it for me.

Why do people cry about Korean clubs and booking.
You paid the money to get. You best enjoy it! And I have to say what an experience. Fun haha
Crowd I must say 30+ for sure. Felt like me in a sea of ahjushis lol. The booze are expensive thank God I’m lightweight haha bonus! But it’s a «club» so that was expected.
My night in a nutshell. On the dance floor dancing. They put on a jam to get the girls out there and then put a slow jam on to make the girls run away so they can kidnap you and start booking. Haha the second table I got booked at were about my age trying to pass off as older or in search of cougars. A table full of young men who was a «lawyer» a guy with fake glasses, and a teacher and the quiet guy. They were all awesome. Hahha cool. Luckily the were sociable. And the night was enjoyable.
My group of 6 was Mia all booked elsewhere so there’s no where else to run.
Btw Koreatown is dead on new years day.
And if you wanna pull chicks or dudes ladies. Name of the game. Be more assertive

My first ever Unilocal review… in the words of the Joker: «aaand here we go»
I’ve been to this club twice and this has been the only Korean booking club I’ve been to. Now, I’ve always been interested in this whole concept of «booking», not in the «oh baby I want to hook up with random girls» sort of way but more along the lines of an armchair anthropologist studying a niche group of people. The first time we went, it was a Friday night around 10pm and it was fairly empty. The second time I went was on a Saturday night at 11pm (a lot busier then).
Pretty standard club/​lounge atmosphere: dark lighting, loud music, booths and tables spread throughout the venue. If you love Korean music, then this is the place for you. There is a live band that performs all the top K-​pop hits (even old-​school late 90s-​early 00s K-​pop, the heyday of K-​pop if you ask me). The Mexican security guard apparently likes Super Junior as I caught him bobbing his head back and forth when their song was playing.
We got the standard fruit plate with Crown Royal and Coke. Their Coke was FLAT. We opened 3 different cans of Coke and they were all flat. The waiter, Eric, claimed it was due to the heat. Now on to the booking and the girls.
I was stunned at how direct and forceful the male waiters were when bringing girls to our table. They would grab the poor girl’s wrist and walk her over to our table (and other tables as well). Now, if you have low self-​esteem, you probably shouldn’t go to a booking club. A lot of girls will take one look at you before sitting down at your booth and just walk away. *Burn* *ouch*.
Karnak has a reputation for having a lot of old people, but I didn’t find that to be entirely true. I’ve seen people in their early 20s — mid 30s. If you don’t speak Korean, you don’t have a chance. Most of the girls here can’t speak English fluently and you’re probably better off hanging out with the aforementioned Mexican security guard. But, if you want to see your friends being rejected or if you want to say completely random things to a girl only to have her stare blankly at you, then by all means come to Karnak.

On a random Saturday night:
JM: Hey, where do you wanna go tonight?
Me: I dunno.
JM: No VR tonight. We already went two nights in a row last week.
Me: And I don’t wanna go to Cercle cuz it’s been sucking lately…
JM: …Karnak?
Me: Okay…
Yes, my girlfriends and I come to Karnak as the last resort. I think we’ve come here probably 3 times this year so far? And that’s a lot, mind you.
True, there’s a stereotype that this is Cougars-​ville and that the club is home to the late-​late 20’s to the mid-30’s. Well, this is true about 75% of the times I’ve been there. Beware, Karnak is DARK inside, so once you got your beer goggles on, it’s hard to tell what age the patrons are.
Guys, lemme tell ya. I’ve gone to the ladies’ restroom where there’s bright lighting. And HOLY SH*T, I’ve drunkenly almost blurted out «MOM?!» But silly me, they just LOOK like my mom. Don’t let the caked-​on makeup and boob/​lipo surgery fool you.
Now, there are some younger ladies here and there, my girlfriends and I included. Know what means? NONSTOP BOOKING. The experience is scary, compared to the more lax style at VR and Cercle. The waiters do NOT take no for an answer, no excuses accepted. I remember one time when I came out of the bathroom and saw a waiter eagle-​eye me. I thought I could cleverly escape by faking to the left and actually RUN across the club, I kid you not. But alas, he captured me.
The waitresses are even more aggressive. They’ve actually followed me to the bathroom and proceed to drag me to a table after I finish. You know what really sucks? It takes me at least half an hour to go from the bathroom to my own table because once I leave a table that I got booked to, another waiter swoops in and takes me somewhere else. They are THAT serious about booking around here.
My legs do hurt after awhile from being dragged, and I don’t make it to the dance floor very often, but you know what? I still have fun! Once the live band leaves and the DJ plays kpop and top 40, the place becomes lively. And I have met some really cute/​hot fobby guys here who are not over 30 (SCORE!)
Another plus? AMAZING ghetto dogs in the front of the club! If you flirt a little, you might be able to convince a sucker to buy you one. WOOO

A Korean guy I was talking to a while back brought me here with his friends, and i gotta say, this is the most bizarre place I have ever been to. The guys got a table with bottle service, and along with the alcohol came a FRUIT PLATTER! i dont know about you, but i thought that as really weird. The place was dark, crowded, and sweaty and all i could think about was the fruit absorbing all the sweat and humidity in the air. I’ve never been to booking places, so Karnak completely threw me off. I literally felt like i was in a Korean drama. I think I was the only non-​Korean up in this joint. DYING for some diversity, I found myself kicking it with the bouncers for half the night.
Along with all the K-​pop music, they also play slow, lovey dovey, puke in my mouth songs here, and couples actually went on stage and slow danced high school prom status! the night just got weirder… and WEIRDER.
its no wonder things didn’t work out between me and the guy. we are from two different worlds. clearly.

Um. I don’t know what I was doing here.
It’s a booking club so ladies, if you aren’t protected by a male, you will get pulled to a table and sat down with stranger dudes who want to talk to you. It’s a Korean thing. It’s a drinking thing.
Mostly cougars, and those of the male species. Good bottle deals before 10 o’clock.

What can I say? I’m not Korean, I weigh more than 90lbs and I am taller than 5’3″. That means that my chances of getting free booze is low. That’s ok though, because my friend was skinnier and a bit shorter than me so the waiters dragged me to wherever she was going.
It was really empty on Friday night and when they say it closes at 1:30, they sure mean it. All of a sudden the music stopped and the waiters walked over to everyone and said good night.
It was worth an experience but I don’t think I’ll be going back anytime soon… or ever again.