The ideal Saturday afternoon in Koreatown
Park once, eat everything. Here's how a perfect K-Town Saturday actually goes.
1pm, Start at Hanok (3550 W 6th St)
Drop your car in the lot off 6th and walk over to Hanok. Get the single-origin pour-over or, if you need something a little sweeter, the Korean-style latte. The space is small and quiet and exactly what you want before the afternoon gets delicious. Sit for a minute. You'll need the energy.
2pm, Walk two blocks to Kobawoo House (698 S Vermont Ave)
This is the move. Kobawoo has been here forever and the bossam is the reason. Boiled pork belly, fervent kimchi, fresh oysters, little wraps you build yourself. Order that. Don't overthink it. It's $$ and it's worth every dollar. Go with at least one other person so you can also grab the jokbal.
3:30pm, Wander back up 6th St
Walk it off. This stretch of 6th between Vermont and Western is the whole vibe, neon signs, bakeries, people everywhere. Poke into whatever looks good. You're just walking.
4:30pm, Drink at Dan Sung Sa (3317 W 6th St)
Duck into Dan Sung Sa whenever it opens for you. It's a Korean pojangmacha bar, think low lighting, old-school energy, soju cocktails, snacks you didn't know you needed. Order something with soju and let your eyes adjust. This place feels like a secret even though everyone knows about it.
6pm, Transition to Normandie Club (3719 W 6th St)
A five-minute walk and a completely different gear. Normandie Club does craft cocktails with house-made everything. The room is dark and serious about drinks in the best way. Get one of the classics they've riffed on. Tell the bartender what you're in the mood for, they actually listen.
8pm, Dinner at Soowon Galbi (856 S Vermont Ave)
End the night here. Soowon does LA-style galbi, thick-cut marinated short ribs, charcoal grill right at your table, the smell alone. It's a little bit of a drive from 6th St (grab a Lyft or it's about 12 minutes walking south on Vermont) but this is the dinner you'll talk about on Sunday. Reservations aren't taken so arrive by 7:45 to put your name in.
The logistics: Park in the lot on 6th just east of Vermont, there's a structure there that's cheap and central. Everything from Hanok to Dan Sung Sa to Normandie is walkable on 6th. Kobawoo and Soowon are both on Vermont, just at different ends of the afternoon.
That's it. That's the day.