(Illustration by Karan Singh / for The Times)
Koreatown is a neighborhood of extremes. At any time of day, its streets are filled with traffic and car horns blare as they speed through traffic lights. Nondescript shopping malls and plazas give way to smokehouses specializing in everything from charcoal-grilled seafood to grilled duck. And at night, when the rest of the city slows down, Koreatown comes alive with karaoke parlors, secret speakeasies, dive bars, and kitschy restaurants that keep their kitchens open late.
The enclave, home to the largest Korean community in the United States, threatens to overwhelm with its fast pace and unapologetic indulgence. But those who immerse themselves in its magic know that Koreatown is more than just a place. Its images, sounds and smells stay with you. Hours, days, sometimes weeks later, you find yourself daydreaming about a particularly momentous serving of marinated galbi, an inventive soju cocktail or a karaoke performance worthy of “American Idol.”
The spirit of Koreatown extends far beyond the city's designated limits. In northern Orange County, a three-level shopping center has emerged as the pinnacle of Korean culture, and a city best known for its berry-themed amusement park has named its own Koreatown.
Across the country, a wave of Korean fine dining is marked by creativity and extravagance, with carefully plated dishes including caviar and truffles alongside fermented bean paste and kimchi. New arrivals of similar (but not too similar) shades have also arrived in Los Angeles lately.
The next time you're looking for an epiphany, whether thanks to fire-kissed meats, a sparkling banchan, or a raucous night of drinking, head to Koreatown.
