A Koreatown foodie's report

My first blog entry will be dedicated to one of my passions, food! Every Jewish girl needs to know about good restaurants within the area in which she lives, most especially some good delivery Chinese food. Although I am still looking for the latter, I have found a few good places with regard to the former. My first experience of Korean food was less than appealing. It was in a little Korean restaurant outside of the Army base in which I was stationed, in the South?!?! I am a big fan of appetizers and I found nothing appetizing about their starters. Kim Chee, gro-dee! So when I moved to Korea town and wanted nothing to do with any Korean restaurants. I found many other restaurants, but I also found my appreciation for Korean food.

Korean BBQ is practically on every block in K-town, so I knew I wouldn’t be able to escape it forever. I was finally worn down by a neighborhood friend to try out a restaurant close to my home(it’s located on 6^th St. between Serrano and Hobart). I almost didn’t make it because of the picture of a pig on the front of the restaurant and Kimchi(yuck), that almost completely wiped my appetite. My strong stomach held on which was good because it was not only a good meal, but an out of this country experience, say maybe like Korea.

We had to wait a bit for a seat so I was able to go shopping a bit. There is a boutique next door, the clothes are a rockin, but the sizes, well, not so much for me. They may have fit me when I was like 13 years old, but like most other clothing places in K-town, they are designed to be worn by the petitist of petite, but I digress.

The décor was a bit loud in true Korean fashion, but tasteful. One of the neatest things about the restaurant is that we had a button that we could push which would inform the management and our server that we needed something. I had to tie up the child in me not to abuse that privilege. The menu is colorful, and kind of distracting, but translations with pictures for all the meals. The prices are fair, I think our total was around $70 which included drinks, an app. and 2 meals. I had a beef dish, any one should do, but you can ask for a popular beef dish and it is sure to be pleasing.

The appetizers that had turned me off to Korean food appeared on the table and though my friend enjoyed them, I couldn’t bring myself to it, but ended up finding other app’s that I loved. The food is cooked in a large skillet thingy at the center of the table, which was cool until I didn’t want to wait for the food to finish cooking because the exotic aroma's kept luring me in. I could tell that Korean food is an acquired taste, and by the end of the meal I was reconsidering my hater attitude towards this cuisine as it turned out pretty well.

Next up is El Cholo. Koreatown hosts one of the best Mexican food places in town. Just goes to show how quickly towns turn around, next it’ll be Germanytown, or G-town for the hipsters.

El Cholo has been around for awhile, as you will see from the autographed pictures of all the stars. They even have a bronzing of their first utensils, and maybe their millionth tortilla. Kitschy, but not as much as El Coyote, and with way better food.

I have heard they have the best Margarita’s, my cousin loves ‘em, but they’re famous for their green corn tamales. They are so dang good I want to go over and get some now, but I have to wait till May. They serve them only in May through October, and host a big party to welcome them back. They are worth two parties in my opinion.

The quacamole is awesome, but the chips, uhhh not so much. I have almost brought in my own. I am not sure if it is my embarrassement or lack of planning that has prevented me from doing so. Prices are reasonable, and all the meals I have eaten there are great. The portions are large so you could easily split a meal if you are a lighter eater, especially if you order some quac. as an app. A great date place, in fact my Aunt had her reception there, or to take out-of-towners, which I do anytime someone asks for Mexican food.

A quick blurb about the couple of Paris Baguette’s that can be found around K-town. I loved this place. The baked items are great and include a mix of both Korean and French bakery items. I am a bit selective about baked goods having worked in a bakery for a few years, and this place meets my standard. However, the coffee, forget it, unless you like the watered down stuff typical of Asian coffee’s.

Pho 2000! Sounds like a sci-fi flick, but as you probably already know Pho is just a type of Vietnamese noodle, but where did they get the 2000 from?!?! There are a few other Pho places with a couple millennium following the name. But the Pho 2000 on Western between Beverly and 2^nd St. in a little shopping mart is great.

My friend ordered 1 order of Pho soup and a beef dish, both were great. To get the full effect you must put in all the extra’s that come with the dish. It is also better to get take out as the climate is not very appetizing.

Last but not least is Piper’s Restaurant. It’s been around since 1964, practically historical in Los Angeles, and my grandparents used to take me there when I was a kid. They used to have an old medieval theme and a big tin knight that guarded a treasure chest that a child could open if they were to finish there meal. There never needed to be bribery for me to eat all my food, so I always looked forward to the end of the meal when I got to pick my toy. Those were the days

It has changed quiet a bit, but it still serves American food, at great prices, 24 hours a day. Need I say more. Well one more thing, I have heard a couple of cops tell me that it is a cop hang out, so if you want to go there after a night of partying make sure to leave all the contraband elsewhere…