Posts Tagged ‘korean signs’

Warnings at 2009 Korean Festival in Los Angeles

Saturday, September 19th, 2009

Ah, two items close to my heart. No smoking and being photographed…

장터내 모든곳에서는 금연입니다.

Warnings at 2009 Korean Festival in LA

본인의 동의 없이… 사진이 촬영 게재…

By attending the Korean Festival, you consent to being photographed, filmed and recorded as members of the Korean Festival audience and consent to the use of any such film, image or recording at the discretion of the Korean Festival.

Someone should have told the lady selling the chaltteok gwaja. I had posted about CW’s chaltteok cookie, and this woman was at the festival selling something similar, so I was really interested. I started taking photos with my iPhone and was about to pick up a sample so I’d have something new to report on this blog. Well, I don’t know what her problem was… she started complaining about my taking pictures and wouldn’t offer me a sample, which she had been handing out to attendees. Other companies who pay thousands of dollars to have a table at these fairs rush to give out samples because that’s part of marketing their business. She must be in violation of some trademark or patent… CW did patent their technology…

And of course, I am so glad that “Smoking is prohibited in the entire Festival Area. Prohibido fumar en esta area.”

Don’t forget to check out the schedule for the remaining days of the 2009 Korean Festival in Los Angeles.

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

Korean Baby in Hangul Ad for First 5 California

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

Bus shelter on Western Avenue near Fifth Street.

Please take care of my safety…

Korean Baby in Hangul Ad for First 5 California

First 5 California is the state’s effort to educate the parents of children ages 0 – 5. They provide information on child care, safety tips, lead poisoning, car seats, etc. Pamphlets and ads are not only in English, but also in Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese and Chinese.

What I think is most important for Korean parents to understand is that smoking is dangerous to their children’s health. I’m no baby, but one of the hazards of living in Koreatown for me is the cigarette smoking of middle-aged Korean men and young Korean-American women. For the men, it’s a cultural habit brought along from the old country. For the women, it’s an empowerment thing, a way for them to declare their freedom.

For babies and sickly people like me, it’s practically a death sentence. My lung problems can be traced to the fact that my father was a smoker. Killed him too. If you’ve received any education, you have no excuse for smoking.

Wilshire State Bank in Koreatown

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

It’s Wilshire Unhaeng (“Bank”) in Korean but Wilshire State Bank in English. A subsidiary of Wilshire Bankcorp, listed on the NASDAQ as WSBK. Commercial banking and other financial services… WSB

Wilshire State Bank in Koreatown, Los Angeles

Address for this Mid-Wilshire Branch:
3832 Wilshire Boulevard, #104
Los Angeles, CA 90010-3220
Phone number: (213) 427-7711‎

Hours Open:
Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM to 5:00P M
Friday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

This location is part of the Koreatown strip mall known as Wilshire State Plaza.

Center Bank Parking on Western Avenue

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

People will mistake Center Bank for a central bank… Listed on NASDAQ as CLFC, Center Financial Corporation

Center Bank Parking on Western Avenue

This is Beverly Boulevard. Hanmi Unhaeng nearby.
253 North Western Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90004
Phone number: (213) 381-2222. Manager: Don Choi

Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM to 5:00P M
Friday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Center Bank also has locations in downtown Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago and a whole bunch of other places throughout Los Angeles County and the United States. Their headquarters are at 3435 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 700, Los Angeles, California 90010. The bank’s president and CEO is Jae Whan Yoo. In business serving the Korean community for 23+ years.

Nearest non-Korean bank branches are Wells Fargo and Washington Mutual (er, Chase) in Larchmont Village about 8 blocks to the west and on Wilshire Boulevard about 8 blocks south.

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