Korean Food is Everywhere... from LA to Springfield

The reason I love Los Angeles is because you can feel such a strong Korean vibe... it has nothing to do with the fact that I have a Korean face. I just really like the food! So does my husband.

These pics are from Gyenari, a restaurant Hannah and I stumbled on in Culver City. We were going to another restaurant to meet some of her friends for dinner. Not knowing the area very well, we were a little early and walked by a Korean restaurant during Happy Hour. And, what a good choice-- we were definitely smiling when we left!


Hite... my Korean beer of choice. You can buy it all over Springfield, by the way.

Back to Jim's love affair with Korean food... When we were in Korea in October, my Korean aunts kept hand feeding Jim as if he were a baby. Not only that, but they oohed and aahhed at the way he used his chopsticks. I thought..."What about me?!" After all, I was raised by white Missourians... where was my applause? haha

Anyway, I digress.

Korean food is really good eats, and I'm so glad to see it more in the mainstream--whether it is a full-on Korean restaurant or a Kogi taco truck.

DID YOU KNOW KOREAN FOOD IS ALSO EVERYWHERE IN SPRINGFIELD? Interestingly, there are a ton of Korean restaurant owners... who operate non-Korean establishments. How does this play into your food? Tons. Argentina Steakhouse, Fuji, Ohana, Mijuri, Haruno, ReRico and Kai are just a few examples I can think of off the top of my head. You are probably eating Korean-inspired dishes without knowing it!

Another Hanguk Shikdong!!!

Springfield has another Korean Restaurant...I am so excited!! Unfortunately, I can't remember the name..."Golden - something"...it's sort of on the corner of Fort and Sunshine.

Another unfortunate thing...the location. Honestly, it's a little skanky on the outside...but you should never judge a book by its cover, right? Forget that it's right by an adult shop. Whatever.

I dragged Jim to it, and he had some reservations about it's outward appearance...however, when you walk inside, it's clean and spacious...and most importantly, the food is good.

We had bulgoki and japchae...I always get popular Korean dishes to gauge how good it is. I was very pleased. I will definitely go back. The prices were more than reasonable...and I want to go back for lunch--they have great specials, and they also have a couple of Chinese dishes for those less interested in eating Korean food. (Cashew chicken and rice $3.99)

And another good sign, there were quite a few customers inside...and Korean ones at that. That sounds silly, but my thoughts are always this: if you go to a Korean restaurant and find Korean people eating the food, it's usually worthy. Yes, that was a deep thought.