LA's HUGE Koreatown
Aug 26, 2008, 10:44 am
#16
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Los Angeles & Orange County, CA
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It's really weird, but I find the food at these ethnic towns to be much inferior than food from some of these ethnic neighborhoods. I don't like any of the Korean places in KT, but I like a lot of the Korean restaurants in places like Rowland Heights.
Aug 26, 2008, 11:07 am
#17
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Downtown Los Angeles 🏙️
Programs: FT Member # 642
Posts: 4,386
On my other BB that I belong to there are quite a few Koreans and often go to K Town for get togethers.
I am not a Korean food expert but I would guess that just like any other types of food there are different levels.
From the hole in the wall joint to a high end joint and everywhere in between. It probably depends on what you are looking for.
I am not a Korean food expert but I would guess that just like any other types of food there are different levels.
From the hole in the wall joint to a high end joint and everywhere in between. It probably depends on what you are looking for.
Aug 27, 2008, 8:01 am
#18
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,638
a simple guide to korean restaurants in LA: if there are pictures of food on the restaurant's signs, then the food is probably not good. while there may be exceptions, in my experience this rule always has held true.
another rule i came up with after discovering that korean food in LA is generally better than korean food in ... korea: korean food in LA is made the way it was meant to be made - by central americans. of course, my korean spouse attributes it to better ingredients, but that doesn't explain why arirang in pasadena is sub-par (i peeked, and the cooks looked korean).
my recommendations:
yongsusan for court cuisine, but also for its awesome wrapped kimchi and unique duk gook (which makes for a moderately priced lunch).
sokongdong, on olympic just west of vermont (behind hodori) is hands-down the best soondooboo (soft bean curd) place in town. oddly enough, this is one of the best korean restaurants to bring kids (they will serve you "white" or unspicy dooboo).
saritgol was mentioned before, but i would add that whether you like it depends entirely on how much you like "fishy" tastes. i do not, so i never come here.
my favorite dak-kal-bi (literally, "chicken ribs") place is on olympic & kingsley, just a few blocks east of crenshaw. from the outside, it doesn't look like a restaurant - more like a place that repairs small appliances. they give lots of genyip (sesame leaf).
finally, san on 8th & berendo has a well-earned reputation for its jun-buk-jook (abalone "chouder"), but parking can be a challenge.
another rule i came up with after discovering that korean food in LA is generally better than korean food in ... korea: korean food in LA is made the way it was meant to be made - by central americans. of course, my korean spouse attributes it to better ingredients, but that doesn't explain why arirang in pasadena is sub-par (i peeked, and the cooks looked korean).
my recommendations:
yongsusan for court cuisine, but also for its awesome wrapped kimchi and unique duk gook (which makes for a moderately priced lunch).
sokongdong, on olympic just west of vermont (behind hodori) is hands-down the best soondooboo (soft bean curd) place in town. oddly enough, this is one of the best korean restaurants to bring kids (they will serve you "white" or unspicy dooboo).
saritgol was mentioned before, but i would add that whether you like it depends entirely on how much you like "fishy" tastes. i do not, so i never come here.
my favorite dak-kal-bi (literally, "chicken ribs") place is on olympic & kingsley, just a few blocks east of crenshaw. from the outside, it doesn't look like a restaurant - more like a place that repairs small appliances. they give lots of genyip (sesame leaf).
finally, san on 8th & berendo has a well-earned reputation for its jun-buk-jook (abalone "chouder"), but parking can be a challenge.
Jul 28, 2013, 9:01 am
#19
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 314
Im sorry to bump this thread but there was such great information in it. It has been 5 years so things might have changed. Is Koreatown still fairly safe during the day and what Korean BBQ place would you who frequent this area alot recommend?
Jul 28, 2013, 11:40 am
#20
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Downtown Los Angeles 🏙️
Programs: FT Member # 642
Posts: 4,386
I live in DTLA and go to Koreatown quite a bit. I usually go to the KBBQ places with my Korean friends and I don't know the names because most of them just have Korean signs that I can't read or I don't pay attention. I will find out for you though. Yes it is safe to walk around during the day. I do all the time.
Jul 28, 2013, 6:56 pm
#21
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 314
I live in DTLA and go to Koreatown quite a bit. I usually go to the KBBQ places with my Korean friends and I don't know the names because most of them just have Korean signs that I can't read or I don't pay attention. I will find out for you though. Yes it is safe to walk around during the day. I do all the time.
Aug 5, 2013, 12:10 am
#24
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 670