Korean BBQ: Los Angeles

One of the benefits of having Korean friends who are also hearty eaters is that they're eager to help me explore Korea Town and its many fantastic, commonly unknown (to outsiders) restaurants.

Korean cuisine is excellent for die hard carnivores and for late hour munchies after the club. I've found that most of the restaurants I've visited open late and enthusiastically cater to late workers and club goers without sacrificing the quality of their food or ambience.

1. If you are sincerely a carnivor, I recommend MANA:
MANA Korean BBQ
http://www.mannakoreanbbq.com/
3377 W Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
11am-11pm on weekdays
11am-12am on weekends

MANA is one of the best Korean BBQ restaurants in the Greater Los Angeles Area for a very amazing deal.
For $16.99, a patron can eat an unlimited amount of meat with one restriction: don't waste food.


There are a few cautions I must express before you try out MANA.

1. In the unlimited meal deal there is a stern monetary penalty for food left over and untouched.

2. When the restaurant gets busy, the only way to get the servers' attention is to speak Korean.
These simple phrases help tremendously.

"Excuse me" sheelay hamnida
"I don't understand" Eehay moht algaysumnida
"Can you help me?" Mu-ŏ-sŭl do-wa-dŭ-ril-kka-yo?

2. Late Night Tofu
BCD Tofu House
http://www.bcdtofu.com/
(213) 382-6677
3575 Wilshire Blvd (at Ardmore Avenue)
Los Angeles, CA 90010
24 hrs

ask for the soon tofu
+combination if you're really hungry
they go from mild to spicy

Soon Tofu is essentially a piping hot bowl of soup with a lot of spiced heat from mild to extreme, accompanied with silky tofu and your choice of protein.
Traditionally, a raw egg is partnered with the stew. Crack the egg into the bowl and let the temperature from the soup cook the yolk and white.

The meal is attended with a few traditional side dishes (au gratis) ranging from salted fish, to kimchee (spicy pickled cabbage and vegetables)

3. Late Night Korean Sampler
Hodori
213) 383-3554
1001 S Vermont Ave Ste 102
Los Angeles, CA 90006
They have everything from kalbi (barbecue short ribs), duk-bok-ki (spicy rice cakes) to yuk-gae-jang (spicy beef soup with scallions)

Hodori is an all around Korean diner. The food is relatively inexpensive, the restaurant is immaculate, opened 23 hours and there is a huge variety of dishes for the budding fan of Korean cuisine.
Lit pictures of each dish is displayed proudly at the front of the restaurant for the timid visitor.
The meals are accompanied by an array of appetizers (au gratis) usually including a few forms of kimchee (pickled vegetables) and potato salad.
Hodori's food is delicious and recognized throughout the community. They're proud of their reputation as proven by the newsprint of a former president dining at one of their locations on one of their walls.

Best Dim Sum in the LA Area

DIM SUM:

Dim Sum is a Chinese cuisine involving a wide range of light dishes escorted by tea. It's usually served weekend mornings until mid afternoon at Chinese restaurants and specialty Dim Sum eateries.

Dishes come in small portions carted throughout the restaurant by a troop of Asian servers though a menu is usually made available for specialty or dinner items.

How it works:
Dim Sum reminds me of ordering peanuts at a baseball game from snack vendors.
When you see a dish that catches your eye, just wave the server over and point to the dish that you desire. The server will place the small plate on your table and stamp the bill at your table indicating your order.
It usually becomes a game of gathering one's sense of culinary adventure, pointing to random dishes and experimenting. I assure you that you will quickly learn what you like and dislike at a restaurant.

After the meal, a server will tabulate the number of dishes you asked for by organizing them by size and specialty on your bill.
Viola! You're done!

My recommendation for first timers:

1. Order tea. I usually prefer a mixture of jasmine and chrysanthemum. It helps with digestion.

2. Take your time when ordering your meal. Dim Sum is less about stuffing your face and more about enjoying an easy brunch with friends. There's no need to horde your food. Enjoy and sample each dish that come your way and catches your attention.

3. Keep an open mind. I'll warn you that there may be a few, occasional exotic dishes (chicken feet, baby octopus, tripe...ect) the majority of the foods are tame and made with mundane ingredients. I assure the first timer that they may only seem exotic in appearance.

It's my suggestion that a newbie stick to the basics and make an occasional leap of faith with an unknown dish. This kind of random selection will be the only way you will ever find out if you like something or not.

The Basics

1. Shrimp Dumpling-It's shrimp wrapped in cooked rice noodle. Good with soy sauce/ hot chilli oil.

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2. Turnip Cake-It's turnip and rice flour compressed and made into a little cake. It's slightly salty, but overall pretty mute in flavor. I suggest asking for HOISIN SAUCE for dipping.

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3. Rice Rolls-Pork or Shrimp wrapped Rice Noodle accompanied by a slightly sweet soy sauce.

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4. Char Su Bao (Pork Bun)- Slightly sweet and salty pork slices wrapped in a fluffy bun. An alternative to this dish is one made with chicken instead of pork.

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5. Su Mai- Usually ground chicken or ground pork occasionally mixed with minced shrimp, scallions, garlic and water chest nut. It's wrapped in basic won ton wrapper. Good with soy sauce/ hot chilli oil.

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6. Egg Custard Tart- It's a traditional light dessert/ pastry made of egg and custard.

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My recommendations for LA are:
The Empress Pavillion
in Chinatown on Hill
(take the escalator upstairs)
http://www.empresspavilion.com/
The website has a small sample of their dim sum menu and directions. I recommend showing up early as there is usually a wait on the weekends.

My recommendation for a more authentic place:
Ocean Star Seafood Restaurant
145 N Atlantic Blvd
Monterey Park, CA 91754-1581
(626) 308-2128

Favorite Breakfast Nook

If you have never been to The Griddle. I encourage you to sample one of Los Angeles' most amazing breakfast joints.

The Griddle is well known for their extraordinary pancakes, waffles, french toast and assortment of breakfast foods.
The price is modest, the food is divine and the portions are Middle American supreme.

I personally enjoy the pancakes which are so huge that they had to include a separate category for single slap jack. Most patrons weren't able to finish the enormous "three stack" that could keep an average person dining on pancake for a week.
(Try the Black Magic Pancake: Pancake fused with crushed Oreo cookies served under a generous portion of fluffy whipped cream)


The Griddle also offers a mighty serving of liquid happiness in the form of their imported, freshly ground French Press coffee .

The only downfall of this fantastic breakfast nook is that it's popularity has grown over the years, creating an unpredictable chance of being put on a waiting list.
Gather your patience and focus on my strong recommendation. The food is worth the wait.

http://www.thegriddlecafe.com/