Helie's Hot Hangouts in Koreatown

When my family arrived in Los Angeles in 1969, there was no Koreatown just a handful of shops, restaurants, and churches along Olympic Boulevard.  Today Koreatown stretches all the way from Wilton Place to Hoover Street, and Pico Boulevard to Melrose Avenue, and it’s still expanding.  The LA Korean population has grown from less than 10,000 in 1970 to an estimated 160,000 people, making it the largest concentration of Koreans outside of Korea.  That’s why I believe the Korean food is so good in LA in addition to the fact that Southern California has fresh greens and other ingredients all year long.

RANKING SYSTEM

Prices:
$  Very cheap (under $7 for a meal)
$$ Cheap (between $7 - $10)
$$$ Reasonable ($7 - $15)
$$$$ A bit pricey ($10 - $35)
$$$$$ Very expensive even for American standards

Food Quality:
# Don’t Drink the Water
## Okay
### Tasty
#### Just like my mother’s cooking (and she’s the best)
##### Not authentic Korean enough

Decor:
* Bring your own toilet paper
** Nothing to brag about but clean
*** Nice (Can take company to)
**** Impressive
***** Over the top (should have put the money towards the food)

English Friendly:
J

Parking:
+ Free parking
++ Valet
-- available street parking

RESTAURANTS

ChoSun Galbee $$$$  ****  ####  J ++  - -
3330 W. Olympic Blvd., LA, CA. 90019  323-734-3330, CG is known for their high quality meat.  You can cook it yourself at the table if it’s a large enough order or have them cook it in the kitchen. 

BCD Tofu House $$  ***  ####  J  +  - -
3575 Wilshire Blvd., LA, CA. 90010  213-382-6677
Order the Korean BBQ & Tofu Soup combo (Soups come in mild, medium and very spicy)

Tahoe Galbi $$$$ ***  ##   J  ++  - -
3986 Wilshire Blvd., LA, CA. 90010  213-365-9000

Dragon Restaurant (Korean-Chinese Restaurant) $$$  ***  ####  J ++
966 S. Vermont Ave., LA, CA. 90006 213-387-8833
Order the Ya-kee Mandoo (fried dumplings), Jja-jang-myun (you can only get this at a Korean-Chinese restaurant.  It’s a black noodle dish.  Worth tasting at least once).  My family has been going here since I was in the 3rd grade.  It’s a family owned business.  Now that says a lot.

Hodori $$  ***  #### J  +
1001 S. Vermont Ave., No. 102, (213) 383-3554
This place stays open for 24 hours for those late night Korean cravings.  It also has photos of all the food, which makes ordering easy.  Beware: it’s very bright inside.  Bring your sunglasses at night.

Kobawoo  $$$  ****  ####  J  ++
698 S. Vermont Ave. #109, LA, CA. 90005  213-389-7300
Order the house special: the bossam, a combo of sliced pork belly and ultra spicy kimchi.  The mungbean pancakes and potato pancakes are mouthwatering as well.

Park’s BBQ $$$  **  ####  J  ++
955 S. Vermont Ave., LA, CA. 90006  213-380-1717
Park’s is a charcoal BBQ restaurant.  Order any of the meat dishes and cook it at your table with friends.  Plenty of tasty banchan (appetizers). 

Yongsusan  $$$$  ***  ####   J  ++  - -
950 S. Vermont Ave., LA, CA. 90005  213-388-3042
This is a very traditional, multi course meal.  The portions are small because that’s the style, but you get many courses.  The stuffed bosam kimchi is famous here.

Seoul Garden  $$$  ***  ####   J  ++
1833 W. Olympic Blvd.,  LA, CA. 90006  213-386-8477
Korean-style Mongolian hot pot, similar to Shabu Shabu, with great beer and lots of vegetables.

Saritgol  $$$  ***  ####   J  ++  - -
3189 W. Olympic Blvd., LA, CA. 90006  213-387-0909
This is a new find for me though my friend’s family has been going here for years.  It’s my new favorite restaurant.  It’s traditional home-style Korean cooking with lots and lots of delicious side dishes.

Most Korean restaurants do not require reservations even for large parties, unless you want a private room or it’s for your wedding reception.  All Korean restaurants do give out free banchan, and you can ask for refills, but don’t get too greedy, unless you go to a trendy Korean restaurant on the West Side (i.e. Woo Lae Oak on La Cienega Blvd.).  Don’t do it.  Woo Lae Oak is overpriced and too bland for my taste.  As far as tips are concerned, most elderly Koreans and recent immigrants give 10% because in Korea they don’t tip.  I usually tip 15%.  20% if the service is exceptional, but Korean restaurants are not known for their service.  You will not have a server come up to you and ask how your meal is.  However, the service is very fast.  That’s how they make their money at the smaller restaurants.  Quick turn over.  Try not to chat at the table for hours after you’ve already finished your meal, unless the place is empty.  And lastly, please don’t just order a bowl of rice and eat the banchan even though that would be plenty of food.  If you order too much you can always ask for a Togo container.

CAFES

Hwa Sun Ji Tea & Coffee  $$$  ****  ####  +  - -
3960 Wilshire Blvd., #100, LA, CA. 90010  213-382-5302
Relaxing and soothing atmosphere with private areas to sit.  Try the different teas.  They offer free rice cakes and cookies to nibble on plus free barley tea.  Must order the pat bingsoo.  It’s shaved ice with small chunks of watermelon, honeydew, mini rice cakes, and green tea ice cream all on top.  You may get a server that doesn’t speak English.  I told them they needed to hire someone who does.  But if you get the one that doesn’t don’t worry they have an English menu.

Chasaengwon Tea House  $$$  ****  ####  +  - -
3839 Wilshire Blvd. #C, LA, CA. 90010
They have tea tasting everyday.  Not that many tables so it’s very quaint.  I buy my teas and teapots here as gifts.  It’s the highest quality.

Yong-Dong Hite Rounge  (unable to rate)
3839 Wilshire Blvd., LA, CA 90010  213-384-8999
Korea pub with Korean draft beer and Korean-style bar snacks including great spicy chicken wings and pig’s ear.  Personally I’ve never visited this location.  It’s a friend’s hot pick, but I’m always willing to try new things even pig’s ear.  I’ve tried worse things before and it wasn’t Korean. 

Feel free to hang out at Korean cafés.  They don’t expect customers to vacate the tables as quickly as restaurants.

SPAS

Aroma Wilshire Center  $$$  ****  + ( 2 hours free with validation)  - -
3680 Wilshire Blvd., LA, CA. 90010
The spa caters to the upper crust of the community.  It features mud baths, stone treatments, facials and massages in private rooms.  Must try to Korean scrub (exfoliation) treatments.  For $30, you’ll get a full head to toe exfoliation.  Dead skin from years back will fall off your body and you’ll be left with fresh pink skin.  The scrub ends with a vigorous, but relaxing shampoo.  Do not get a scrub every week.  It’s best to get it done once a month or so, because your body needs the oils.  But I think the scrubs keep Koreans looking younger than most.  Also visit the food court and practice golf range.

Olympic Spa  $$  ***   J  ++  - - Women-only
3915 W. Olympic Blvd., LA, CA. 90019 323-857-0666
Get the half hour body scrub (the best exfoliation ever) plus the 35 minute massage.  If you do both you don’t have to pay the entrance fee, which is $15. 

Unlike Aroma, Olympic, Natura and Beverly Hot Springs do not offer private rooms for your treatments.  The treatment areas are sectioned off, but sometimes still visible.  If you’re body conscious, this is not your thang, because you’ll be laying totally naked next to another women on a table getting her treatment.  Be bold, get a scrub, don’t miss out!   As far as facials are concerned get the Goddess Treatment.  It’s $100.  They use great French Products. 

Natura Spa  $$  ***  ++  - -
3240 Wilshire Blvd., LA, CA. 90010  213-381-2288
I have not been here in while, but my non-Korean friends often go here and Olympic Spa.

Beverly Hot Springs  $$$$  ***  J  +  - -
308 N. Oxford Ave., LA, CA. 90004
The entrance fee is around $40-$50 depending on what day of the week, but it’s worth it.  BHS is a natural hot mineral spring in the middle of Ktown.  The treatments are around $10 more than the other Korean spas (but still less than Burke Williams’ treatments).  To get a better price on the entrance fee I buy a series of 25 tickets for $600.  Buy your tickets from Eric because he always gives a few extra if you ask nicely. 

Grand Spa  $$  ***  ++  - -
2999 W. 6th St., LA, CA. 90020 213-380-8889
The Grand is open 24 hours and it’s cheap ($15 entrance fee).  Many young people clubbing and partying in Ktown will trip into the Grand around 3AM and crash out in the sleeping area, which is one large common room.  I say if you’re flying into LA for just a night, come with a small carryon and head straight for the Grand after your meetings.  Shower, shave, soak and sleep.  You can stay the entire next day and even order Korean food that’s made at the café/bar downstairs.  Warning: Women do snore loudly.

BHS is the only spa that you have to be really quiet unless it’s just you and your friends, which can be a possibility.  BHS is not that crowded surprisingly, but there are days like Mother’s Day that every mother treats herself.  Also be warned that the women who give the treatments at every Korea spa all wear black bras and underwear as their uniforms.  I don’t know the history behind it, but they just do. 

I would tip 15% to 20%.  After your treatment, you may be given an envelope for the tip.  You can give the envelop directly to your masseuse or to the front desk.

HAVE A WONDERFUL KOREAN EXPERIENCE!!!!