Advanced Korean Foods in LA's Koreatown for an East Coast KoreanAmerican
November 14, 2013 1:12 AM Subscribe
What can a Korean American who's grown up eating Korean food on the East Coast find in LA's Koreatown that they can't find in the Northeast?
Hi, folks. My girlfriend is Korean American and for years has been telling me how West Coast Korean American culture is totally different from East Coast Korean American culture. She's from the East Coast, but she's been to parts of California and known people from the West Coast through college.
Recently, she watched the Koreatown episode of Anthony Bourdain's 'Parts Unknown' and got really excited. For years, we've been thinking about taking a sunny vacation for an extended weekend during February. Now, we've decided to finally take the plunge.
Given that her parents are Korean, her own style of cooking is very Korean influenced, we shop at a Korean grocery store often, and we've eaten in many Korean restaurants in the Northeast, what can we expect to find in LA that we can't find over here? I know the Korean Taco is a thing (a thing we've never tried and want to know more about), but I'd also like to hear about Korean restaurants that differ significantly from the norm. Are there places that specialize in one particular type of Korean food (aside from fried chicken---we've been to those)? Are there Korean BBQ places that are really different from what you'd find over here?
Do not feel the need to spare any effort in enticing us, as we have not yet bought the plane tickets or booked a hotel.
BONUS: An inexpensive hotel in Koreatown. DOUBLE BONUS: Folks for us to meet when we go!
Hi, folks. My girlfriend is Korean American and for years has been telling me how West Coast Korean American culture is totally different from East Coast Korean American culture. She's from the East Coast, but she's been to parts of California and known people from the West Coast through college.
Recently, she watched the Koreatown episode of Anthony Bourdain's 'Parts Unknown' and got really excited. For years, we've been thinking about taking a sunny vacation for an extended weekend during February. Now, we've decided to finally take the plunge.
Given that her parents are Korean, her own style of cooking is very Korean influenced, we shop at a Korean grocery store often, and we've eaten in many Korean restaurants in the Northeast, what can we expect to find in LA that we can't find over here? I know the Korean Taco is a thing (a thing we've never tried and want to know more about), but I'd also like to hear about Korean restaurants that differ significantly from the norm. Are there places that specialize in one particular type of Korean food (aside from fried chicken---we've been to those)? Are there Korean BBQ places that are really different from what you'd find over here?
Do not feel the need to spare any effort in enticing us, as we have not yet bought the plane tickets or booked a hotel.
BONUS: An inexpensive hotel in Koreatown. DOUBLE BONUS: Folks for us to meet when we go!
I've never had Korean on the East Coast, but I have in LA so I'll tell you what I love to eat there and you can decide if you've already had it :)
BBQ - I guess there's a reason they call it L.A. Kalbi? Although I prefer bulgogi myself...
Soondubu jigae - I think there are quite a few "houses" that specialise in this stuff, I can't remember the names of any of them but that would be on the top of my list.
posted by like_neon at 3:54 AM on November 14, 2013
BBQ - I guess there's a reason they call it L.A. Kalbi? Although I prefer bulgogi myself...
Soondubu jigae - I think there are quite a few "houses" that specialise in this stuff, I can't remember the names of any of them but that would be on the top of my list.
posted by like_neon at 3:54 AM on November 14, 2013
This links to all the Koreatown posts on LA Eater. Perhaps of interest:
14 Under-The-Radar Koreatown Restaurants to Try Now
An Updated Guide to LA's Best Korean Restaurants
posted by bluecore at 4:10 AM on November 14, 2013
14 Under-The-Radar Koreatown Restaurants to Try Now
An Updated Guide to LA's Best Korean Restaurants
posted by bluecore at 4:10 AM on November 14, 2013
Jonathan Gold is hardly ever wrong, only he can't ever just recommend just one place.
posted by carsonb at 4:11 AM on November 14, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by carsonb at 4:11 AM on November 14, 2013 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Could you be a bit more specific about which regions are included in "East Coast Korean American"? I am asking because I have found NYC-area Korean American culture (and restaurant fare) to be different from other parts of the East Coast, such as say, the Washington, DC area. Also, did your girlfriend grow up eating Korean food from a particular region?
Looking at the links in the posted answers, what catches my eye are the restaurants with North Korean and Yanbian fare (Yanbian is an area of China with a large population of ethnic Koreans). By North Korean I mean the regions of Korea in the north, such as Pyongyang and Hamhung, and foods associated with those areas, not what is eaten in North Korea these days, whatever it may be. Yanbian fare would be difficult to find even in Korea.
Based on the provided links, some places to try would be O Jang Dong, Yu Hyang Soondae, and Yanbian. Depending on your tolerance of Korean fermented bean paste, Olympic Cheonggukjang would also be worth a try - I grew up thinking that cheonggukjang was one of the vilest smelling foodstuffs I had ever encountered, but a recent experience eating cheonggukjang in Korea changed my mind.
posted by needled at 5:13 AM on November 14, 2013 [2 favorites]
Looking at the links in the posted answers, what catches my eye are the restaurants with North Korean and Yanbian fare (Yanbian is an area of China with a large population of ethnic Koreans). By North Korean I mean the regions of Korea in the north, such as Pyongyang and Hamhung, and foods associated with those areas, not what is eaten in North Korea these days, whatever it may be. Yanbian fare would be difficult to find even in Korea.
Based on the provided links, some places to try would be O Jang Dong, Yu Hyang Soondae, and Yanbian. Depending on your tolerance of Korean fermented bean paste, Olympic Cheonggukjang would also be worth a try - I grew up thinking that cheonggukjang was one of the vilest smelling foodstuffs I had ever encountered, but a recent experience eating cheonggukjang in Korea changed my mind.
posted by needled at 5:13 AM on November 14, 2013 [2 favorites]
Kae Sung Market has more varieties of fresh-made kimchi than I've ever seen together in one place in New York.
posted by RogerB at 9:43 AM on November 14, 2013
posted by RogerB at 9:43 AM on November 14, 2013
having moved from los angeles to the nyc area fairly recently, I seriously miss and crave going to Nak Won at Olympic & Vermont for some jjolmyeon, especially on a hot day. (also they are cheap, open 24 hours a day, have great banchan, and barley ice tea.)
(side note, if anyone knows where to get good jjolmyeon in NYC/Fort Lee/Palisades/Flushing/etc., uh memail me?)
posted by jann at 8:56 PM on November 14, 2013
(side note, if anyone knows where to get good jjolmyeon in NYC/Fort Lee/Palisades/Flushing/etc., uh memail me?)
posted by jann at 8:56 PM on November 14, 2013
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Let's see, I've been here for a year and still haven't even had a chance to try the best Korean noodle joint that's around the corner: Madang Gooksoo
There are a few places in the region that lay claim to the best sul lung tang in the world (Han Bat), but Young Dong restaurant distinguishes itself by offering the 'healthier' clear broth version, as opposed to the usual cloudy broth.
My Koreaphile friends and I have been meaning to try a Korean spa. There's a huge one in downtown Los Angeles, supposedly comparable to the spas in Seoul.
I'm at 8th and Western, and looooooove Korean food!
posted by carsonb at 3:51 AM on November 14, 2013 [1 favorite]