Korean recs in ktown?

[Lau]

So I'm coming home next week and I've got a dinner with some friends that's going to be ktown, I'm looking for some Korean recs as I'm not up as up to speed on what's good these days since I don't live in CA anymore

I could go to my normal spots like Park's, Ondal 2 etc, but I wanted to see if anyone had some good recs? I'm up to hear about anything good (bbq, soups whatever)

Anything would be much appreciated!

[Lau]

btw i went to koo's ho tteok while I was up at seongbukdong:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/829026
http://www.lauhound.com/2012/01/koos-...

[Butter Fight]

I think that Mapo on 6th and Normandie doesn't get enough love around here.
The dough flake soup, the braised cod, the soon tofu, the pork and vegetables, I've never had a bad dish there.
Also, they have the freshest and tastiest panchan I've ever had.

[Lau]

mapo kkak doo gee? (there's a mapo kalbi that is a dak kalbi place, but based on where u said it is this must be the place)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mapo-kkak-doo...

[Butter Fight]

Yeah that's it.
sorry for any confusion. The only part of the sign I can read says "mapo restaurant," so I didn't really even know about the longer name

[Lau]

yah there is another mapo called mapo galbi which serves dak kalbi (a spicy grilled chicken, which is delicious btw)

[ellaystingray]

There are obviously a lot of very knowledgable people on this board in regard to K-Town but I've got two more things to throw your way since you used to live here and clearly aren't a novice.

Honey Pig
Soowon Galbi

Both places have their quirks so fire up the interwebs and see if they sound fun but one thing is constant--the food is terriffic at both places.

[Lau]

never been to soowon although i know what it is

honey pig is awesome

[scottca075]

Have you tried places like the O B Bear, Seoul Soondae House Two and Dansungsa?

[Peripatetic]

Have you been to Seongbukdong? This is my single favorite place in Korea Town. If you go, you'll probably want one of their two signature dishes: galbi jim (braised short ribs) and godeungeo jorim (braised mackerel). Unless you're with a large group or want a lot of leftovers, I wouldn't get both because they're heavy dishes with some similarities. My other favorite dishes there are the haemul pajeon (seafood pancake) and the dolsot bibimbap. They don't have alcohol, but it's in the same strip mall as Dan Sung Sa so you could stop in there first if you wanted a quick beer or soju (and don't mind cigarette smoke).

-----
Dan Sung SA
3317 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020

Seong Buk Dong
3303 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020

[Lau]

ah good call, i've been meaning to try seong buk dong for a long time

is kobawoo house still good? i just remembered that place too

[Peripatetic]

Kobawoo House is on my list of places to try. There was a thread about them earlier this year: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/778903

[Lau]

yah i used to really like it, but its been years since ive been there...first time i've had in a while to spend alot of time in CA so kind of excited to eat alot of stuff, normally i'm only home for like 3-4 days so not alot of time

[Lau]

Hey Peripatetic - I'm going to dinner on monday in ktown, do you think that 7 people would be a problem? i know its a pretty small restaurant

my dinner party expanded alot

[Peripatetic]

I've never seen a table of more than 4-5 people, but they seem very nice there, so I would be surprised if they can't put two tables together for you. On the other hand, as you probably know, at some places in K-town you can get rude treatment or be denied service if you don't have any Korean speakers among your party (read some of the one-star Y*lp reviews for Chunju Han-il Kwan). My wife is Korean-born and speaks basic Korean, so we've never had any trouble.

[Lau]

we won't have any trouble language wise, my gf is fluent and so is everyone else at the table except me (they're all korean)

ill have my gf call them to make sure its cool

[Peripatetic]

Sounds like you're all set. With seven people, you can order both the galbi jim and godeungeo jorim without fear of overdoing it. Enjoy!

[Clyde]

that mackerel sounds great! may i ask the cost? wondering if it's worth it to go over lunch, but if it's like $20 then i may pass and wait for dinner.

[Peripatetic]

If I remember correctly, the braised mackerel is around $16, and the grilled mackerel is around $11.

[Clyde]

that is very reasonable. can't wait to try it!!!

[Lau]

hey Peripatetic - thanks for the rec, i ended up going to Seongbukdong, here's my review:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/828594
http://www.lauhound.com/2012/01/seong...

[DrBruin]

Park's is still popular. Soot Bull Jeep gets some love on the CH boards. I enjoyed the AYCE at Road to Seoul.

[Peripatetic]

Note that Park's has two spin-offs: Don Dae Gam and LaOn. Don Dae Gam is a pork specialist, and is excellent. LaOn (next door to Don Dae Gam) is an attempt at Korean fusion tapas. I haven't been there, but there here's the thread: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/798350

[Lau]

yah i heard about don dae gam (and heard its very good as well), but i hadn't heard about LaOn

[soniabegonia]

you'd be wise to stay away from LaOn, an overpriced mess.

[Lau]

ahh yah thanks, LaOn wasn't on my potential list...i don't want fusion stuff really, time is short

i need like a month to come back, a week is even too short

[Peripatetic]

I'm actually glad to hear this. I looked in at LaOn last time I was at DDG and it looked excessively presentation-conscious, which, in a Korean restaurant, is a yellow flag for me.

[Clyde]

really? i do agree it's overpriced but i loved my meal there and have been wanting to go back. we're fish only and there were plenty of great options for us.

[soniabegonia]

to each his own.. i wrote a review a while back. i found the food bad to worse and the whole dining experience extremely frustrating due to the tiny cooking surface.

[baloney]

Well they must've changed it because when I went a few months back, we were able to cook all our beef, shrimp, and octopus plus a few veggies all at once.

[ns1]

Prefer Parks to DDG by quite a bit.

[ns1]

Any new opinions on LaOn?

Thought their dish @ Dine LA was great and J.Gold just did a writeup on the joint.