Posts Tagged ‘90020’

Mandoo (Korean Dumplings) at California Market

Sunday, September 6th, 2009

On one side of the Korean supermarket California Market (Gaju Mah-ket)

MANDU: Korean Dumplings at California Market

HONG KONG MANDOO = 홍콩만두

I found the name interesting because the initials of Hong Kong, HK, also stand for HanKook, which means Korea. California Market’s chief competitor in this area of Koreatown in HK Super just a few blocks north.

The window sign says “Please knock.” When you do, it opens and you can ask for what you want. They sell fried dumplings, king dumplings (hwang-mandu, which could actually be “emperor” dumplings), steamed bread (jjinbbang), kimchi dumplings, pork dumplings, cold dumplings (neng mandu), shrimp dumplings (se-u mandu) and boiled dumplings.

Price seems to be $7 for a dozen. I’ll check next time I’m there. Mmm, you can probably just go inside the supermarket and order while enjoying the air conditioning, and even sit down to eat. You can buy a bag of mandoo (Aisle 7, frozen foods) and fix them up yourself at home.

The phone number shown (213) 385-2174 has been disconnected.
Gaju Address: 450 S Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90020

Iceberry on Western Avenue, Koreatown LA

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

About two blocks north of Berry Nutty (formerly Snowberry)

Iceberry by Car Wash in Koreatown LA

What makes this Iceberry different from other Korean frozen-yogurt places like Pinkberry and Yogurberry? It’s a small stand in a car-wash complex! Great idea: while you wait for the 4th & Western Car Wash to do their thing with your vehicle, you can enjoy some frozen yogurt. Problem is, you wouldn’t want to have your car touched at this place. Reports are that the employees steal whatever you may inadvertently left in your car.

But if you’re sure there’d be nothing to steal in your car, and this is the only place you can find that can do a wash (it isn’t — there’s one just a few blocks north on Western), then take the risk and hang out at Iceberry. Aside from frozen yogurt, they’ve got smoothies and pat-bingsu (red beans over shaved ice, a Korean specialty).

Credit cards are accepted, although no Korean place will be happy about your using it for anything under $10…. You can get fro-yo for much less than that. $5 ~

Address: 401 S Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Corner 4th Street. Phone number disconnected: (213) 382-8900

Berry Nutty Frozen Yogurt in Koreatown

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

Berry Nutty replaced Snowberry in this strip mall about a year ago.

Berry Nutty Frozen Yogurt in Koreatown

Only 8 flavors: strawberry, peach, plain, coffee, strawberry & banana, blueberry, pineapple, mango. Toppings: white chocolate chips, cheesecake bites, cap’n crunch, mochi balls, kiwi, lychee jello, pineapple, strawberries, raspberries, granola, cereal, coconut…

Price: 38 cents an ounce. To compare, (Yogurberry a block away on Wilshire Boulevard offers fro-yo at 30 cents an ounce. Entirely self-service!

Address: 549 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Strip mall, corner of 6th Street and Western Avenue
Phone number: (213) 386-1199

UPDATE: Berry Nutty replaced by Yogo Zone in September 2009

Leewha Traditional Korean Dress Shop

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

Looking for a place to buy traditional Korean dresses in Koreatown? Prices start from $100 at Leewha (pronounced Yee Hwah).

Leewha traditional Korean dress

Many Korean women want to wear a hanbok on their wedding day. Shop on the second floor at Lee Wha, while the husband-to-be buys liquor and lottery tickets downstairs! Seriously though, Asian-American teens come here to use the Korean traditional dress for CosPlay (costume play).

You can have hanbok-inspired dresses customized here with organic 100% authentic silk material. (That’s their line!) Traditional Korean hair jewelry? They’ve got that covered. Even little boys and girls can be outfitted in traditional Korean clothing at this place. Oh, and wedding gifts! They sell Korean comforters (yi-bool) that make perfect presents. Gorgeous colors…

이화고전방 is right next to a tanning salon. And downstairs is Caketown Garden where you can order a big wedding cake! This is the same strip mall where you can buy Berry Nutty frozen yogurt at 38 cents an ounce.

Lee Wha Hanbok Dress Store
Address: 555 S Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Phone number: (213) 252-0022 – Korean speaker only

Strip Mall on 6th Street corner Western Avenue

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

Two-level strip mall in Koreatown, Los Angeles. Behind the sign, you can see the Wilshire Solair.

Strip Mall on 6th Street and Western Avenue

Shops: Diamant, E Lord, 구본성 치과 (dentist), 이화고전방 (LeeHwa traditional Korean wedding dresses, children’s clothing, hair jewelry and comforters), Tanning Sun Plus, 허리케인 (auto accessories and gifts) 복가 (Korean restaurant), 지오평 한의원 (Korean medicine), 이발 (barber), 영동당구장 (table tennis), liquor, 헤어 디자인 클럽 (Hair Design Club), 벌컴컴푸터 (Computers), 영동만화방 (comic books rentals), Berry Nutty Frozen Yogurt, Mr. Coffee, 웨스턴순대 (Western Soon Dae blood sausages), 케익타운가든 (Caketown Garden bakeshop), 하이이불 (Yibool = Korean quilts)

Address: 549-551 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Strip mall, corner of 6th Street and Western Avenue

Volunteer in Koreatown, Los Angeles

Sunday, June 21st, 2009

It’s another Mayor’s Day of Service in Los Angeles!

Councilmember Tom LaBonge, Million Trees LA, CRA/LA, KYCC and PAVA invite you to join community partners and volunteers to help beautify the Wilshire Center / Koreatown area.

Activities include Tree Planting, Trash Pickup, Removal of Bulky Items, Graffiti Removal and more!

Date: June 27, 2009 (Saturday). Time: 8:00 am –12:00 noon

Meet at the Shatto Recreation Center
Address: 3191 West 4th Street, Los Angeles CA, 90020

Sign up to volunteer!

Contact people:

Yonah Hong (CRA/LA): 213.977-1877 / yhong@cra.lacity.org
Stella Song (PAVA): 213.252.8290 / pava@pavausa.com
Irma Garcia (KYCC): 213.743.8750 / igarcia@kyccla.org

* All volunteers will receive a continental breakfast and a certificate of community service for 4 hours!

Snowberry Frozen Yogurt in Los Angeles

Saturday, May 30th, 2009

This Snowberry sign is still up but the store itself has closed and been replaced by Berry Nutty, another fro-yo chain. Located on the corner of 6th Street and Western Avenue in the same strip mall as Caketown Garden.

Snowberry Frozen Yogurt in Koreatown
Address: 547 Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90020

Pinkberry is represented nearby in Larchmont Village. Unlike pinkberry, snowberry is the name of an actual fruit that has the scientific name Symphoricarpos albus. Snowberries are eaten by birds, but are known to be poisonous to humans!

Other Snowberry locations in California (UCLA, Van Nuys and Laguna Beach), New York, Washington and Georgia. HQ office on 3550 Wilshire Boulevard

Caketown Garden on Western Avenue

Saturday, May 30th, 2009

Technically north of Koreatown proper. It’s one block north of Wilshire Boulevard. 케익타운 가든

Caketown Garden on Western Avenue

Inside the strip mall on the corner of 6th Street and Western Avenue

The service people here are more attentive than at Paris Baguette, but there’s nothing remarkable about the baked products at Caketown Garden. Lots of cake made to order and different variants of individually packaged slices of kastera such as honey and corn. Good for when you need an inexpensive pastry fix that will set you back just $1.50.

Address: 551 S Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90020