Koreatown—where rich culture and history intersect
Part of our Los Angeles Neighborhood Guides series, this article is written with the present day in mind: We know that some readers may be more comfortable with different types of activities than others, but we also know that all Los Angelenos feel passionate about supporting local businesses to help protect our scene and ensure we all make it to the other side of this together.
THINGS TO DO
Photo via Facebook / The Wiltern
3790 Wilshire Blvd
At the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue in Koreatown, your favorite artists have probably played here at least once. As if live music wasn't already enough to make you want to go here, its beautiful, classic interior is also a sight. They have an impressive lineup for this year, so make sure to visit their site for their event calendar.
Karaoke
Ktown is the spot in LA to sing the night away with some karaoke. There are endless places to visit but our favorite has to be Cafe Brass Monkey. The wait time can be long on the weekends, but it’s fun to sip on a cocktail and enjoy the performances in the meantime. If you have a bigger group or you just suffer from stage fright, Soop Sok might be a better fit for you with private rooms that you can reserve.
Koreatown Pavilion Garden
1000 Normandie Ave
Nestled on the northeast corner of Olympic and Normandie lies the Koreatown Pavilion Garden —a historical landmark that marks the beginning of Ktown in the beginning of the 1960s with a single grocery store. There are many seated areas within the small reflective space for you to enjoy a brief escape from the hustle and bustle of LA.
Photo via On the Grid
3255 W 4th St
Step into Shatto 39 Lanes and be transported back to the 1950s when this fun and affordable bowling alley first opened. In addition to their 39 lanes, the bowling alley boasts a roundabout bar, coffee shop, arcade and billiards room with across-the-board unbeatable prices. Shatto 39 is the place for the young and broke, but super fun.
FOOD
Photo via Facebook / Kabawoo House
698 S Vermont Ave #109
Kobawoo is a Koreatown staple that’s been serving the neighborhood with bossam, a giant platter of boiled and sliced pork belly, since 1985. For $43, the restaurant’s specialty comes with a couple kinds of kimchi, fermented shrimp, raw oysters, and massive leaves of lettuce to bundle everything together. The portions may not be the biggest, but the quality is unparalleled, warranting the many high praises this restaurant receives.
Photo via Facebook / Sun Nong Dan
3470 W 6th St #7
Located in a nondescript strip mall on 6th st, Sun Nong Dan draws a crowd for one thing and one thing only: Galbi jjim, a gigantic bowl of tender braised short ribs in a spicy galbi sauce. There are other items on the menu that are good —like the sulung tang (oxtail soup) and the oo guh ji galbi tang (short rib soup)— but to wait in a dingy parking lot for anything but the galbi jjim is criminal. Before your first visit to Sun Nong Dan we’ll let you in on a little secret, top the galbi jjim with cheese. You’re welcome!
Photo via Facebook / Guelaguetza
3014 W Olympic Blvd
To those who only expected to find Korean cuisine on this list, HA! Jokes on you. Guelaguetza brings a wide selection of incredible Oaxacan dishes, made with authentic Mexican ingredients, to the outer fringes of Ktown. A live mariachi band adds to the already electric atmosphere at Guelaguetza, providing the best setting to wash down their signature molé with one of the best mezcal margs in the city. Next time you find yourself driving past Koreatown on the 10, don’t. Turn off on Normandie and let Guelaguetza welcome you with open arms.
Photo via Park's BBQ Instagram
955 S Vermont Ave. G
Los Angeles, CA 90006
This is the best spot in Koreatown for Korean BBQ! Using the best and freshest ingredients, Park's BBQ has rightfully earned its reputation as being one of the best places for Prime and Kobe-style beef. We highly recommend grabbing the Lunch Special!
Photo Via R Bar
3331 W 8th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90005
Did someone say speakeasy? Shhhhh! This secret bar, where you need a password to get in, is an excellent spot for some yummy cocktails, soyrizo nachos, a pulled pork sandwich, homemade cheesecake, and drunken brownies.
DRINKS
Photo via Instagram / Dan Sung Sa
3317 W 6th St
For the group of friends who likes to get a little too drunk, Dan Sung Sa is one of our favorite spots to tune out the outside world and enjoy good eats with great company. This dark tavern serves some serious Korean dive bar eats to soak up all the soju and beer. Every table starts off with a bowl of sugar-coated sweet potato crisps but we recommend ordering crowd favorites like the corn cheese, kimchi rice, and spicy rice cakes.
Photo via Facebook / Blipsy Bar
369 N Western Ave
Blipsy steals our hearts as one of the most bizarre but wild bars in LA. From the outside, it doesn’t seem like much, but as soon as you step inside, you’re greeted by oversized stuffed animals and the nostalgic pings and bops of old-school arcade games. We recommend getting there early so you can snag a cheap drink at the cash-only bar and get first dibs on all the best games before hitting the dance floor which opens after 10pm.
Photo via Facebook / HMS Bounty
3357 Wilshire Blvd
To put it simply, the HMS Bounty is lame. The tiny dive bar is dark, dated, and more often than not filled with some old-timers enjoying a $20 steak, but that is precisely why we love it. The place has character. Like moths to a flame, let the massive Gaylord Hotel sign that illuminates Wilshire guide you to the most unexpected hot spot in Ktown —full of cheap drinks and a crowd that’s happy to talk to anyone and everyone.
Photo via Instagram / The Normandie Club
3612 W 6th St
The Normandie Club oozes class with its dark atmosphere and refined occupants —a stark juxtaposition to our previous recommendation. It’s a bar that impresses with drinks to die for. The mixologists at the Normandie Club steal the show with their unique spins on classics like old-fashions with coconut bourbon and daiquiris with a salted-grapefruit cordial. There’s no food so be prepared to stop here either as a first stop before a night out in Ktown, or as an upscale nightcap after dinner.
SHOPPING + MORE
Photo via Instagram / Wi Spa
2700 Wilshire Blvd
If you haven’t been to Wi Spa, then you aren’t taking advantage of everything LA has to offer. For just a flat fee of $30, you get 24-7 access to the Korean spa’s several floors of treatment rooms, hot tubs, saunas, sleeping rooms, and so much more. Be warned though, Wi Spa is no place for the modest. Outside of the co-ed jimjilbang, clothing is not allowed, but we promise you’ll leave feeling more empowered and relaxed than ever.
Photo Via Michael Locke
3465 W 6th St
Koreatown has no shortage of historical landmarks but our favorite has to be the Chapman Market. What started as a drive-in luxury grocery store in 1929, now houses a block of beautiful streetside cafes and boutiques. Journey inside to the central courtyard where nightlife thrives at places like Quarters and the Gaam Lounge. The Spanish Revival plaza makes for one surreal dining experience.
Photo via Facebook / Palace Beauty Galleria
3250 W Olympic Blvd #214
With Korean beauty all the rage these days, what better place to browse Korea’s top-tier beauty brands than Ktown? Palace Beauty Galleria is our one-stop-shop for Asian cosmetics. Prices can lean towards expensive but when in doubt, they have aisles stocked with face masks with enough options to keep you supplied for a lifetime.
Photo via Aroma Spa & Sports
3680 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Feeling sporty? Get a good swing in at the Aroma Golf Range with your besties. Located on Wilshire Blvd, the Aroma Golf Range and Spa offers a wide array of activities. This rooftop Golf Range is the largest in all of Los Angeles, but don't forget to bring your own clubs!
Written by: Amalia Wysocki and Lily Tenner
