The rapper and actor shows us what makes LA’s Koreatown truly authentic and dishes on his favorite katsu spots and karaoke bars.
Dumbfoundead is so proud of his Los Angeles neighborhood that he probably identify more as a Koreatown resident physician than a Korean American , he says .
" grow up in an area that ’s so predominantly Korean , it really gave me the self-assurance to be who I am and be majestic of my heritage and background , " the knocker and actor said in a recent interview with Thrillist . Dumbfoundead ’s Koreatown is the endow community that made him the person he is today . It mold his personality and his artistic side likewise , and his music is a outcome of that upbringing .
Los Angeles ' Koreatown feels as if a chunk of Seoul was magically transplanted into LA . Everywhere you seem , sign are in Korean . Restaurants and prevention receive guests with Korean carte , and somehow , it feels like the neighbourhood will stay constantly unaltered , like a photograph you take in a few years ago . " A bunch of people mouth about gentrification in unlike communities , but I consider the popularity of Korean polish helped slow up down the gentrification in Koreatown , " Dumbfoundead said . " People still want to go to these restaurant and businesses where the foretoken and menus are still in Korean . They desire the legitimacy of Korean culture . "
Thrillist/YouTube
In our series " Ride With Me , " Dumbfoundead guides us into the parallel universe that is LA ’s Koreatown , making us experience like we traveled across the world without hop-skip on a planer . A self - extol Koreatown metropolis council fellow member , Dumbfoundead roll in the hay all the right spots for an immersive , elating , and truly authentic Koreatown experience , and dishes on his favorite spots in his dear neighborhood .
Plates with katsu so big they see like the United States , drinking game at the neighborhood Korean Bar , karaoke sing - alongs , and delicious Korean side dishes that prove a restaurant ’s worth are only a few of the many gemstone Koreatown has to offer . fortunately , we have the perfect guide to walk us through all of them .
So catch your skateboard and check that you do n’t wear a lily-white shirt ( mind the sauce ! ) . We ’re going to Koreatown .
Places to Eat & Drink
Dan Sung SaAccording to Dumbfoundead , the first shot you should take at Dan Sung Sa is beer and soju — together in the same glass , that is .
" Dan Sung Sa is one of those drinking places you might start off with , " he said . " And if you go in there , it ’s like a look into Seoul night life almost . " Dumbfoundead likes to go here with his admirer to kick off the night , and swears by the classic Korean drinking games .
To help with the alcohol intake , there is always some Korean nutrient . " Koreans love eat while you drink , " Dumbfoundead said . " So I ’d in all probability ordinate something like a fish cake soup , which kind of keeps you unchanging so you do n’t get too out of control . "
Chunju Han il - KwanChunju Han il - Kwan is one of Dumbfoundead ’s favored restaurants in Koreatown , and you ca n’t go wrong with any of their dishes . But their sides are his favored . " you’re able to judge a really skilful Korean restaurant by their side dish , " he explained .
The eatery is well bonk for their army stew , the origins of which date back to when the US Army was stationed in South Korea . " They ’d just get a can of Spam and sausage turn or knickknack and dump it in the soup , " Dumbfoundead said . " And I know not a luck of cultures mess with Spam , but I raise up on Spam . I never assure it as a gross affair and I still do n’t . I love a undecomposed Spam bit in something . "
Koreatown PlazaDumbfoundead is n’t really sure about who see the shops at Koreatown Plaza mall , but what he does know is the mall ’s food court is pop .
It ’s the arrant blank space for when you are with a grouping of admirer and just ca n’t decide on a billet . It ’s simple : You split up , get some adept food , and receive at the tabular array .
Dumbfoundead definitely recommend the nutrient Margaret Court ’s katsu spot . " It ’s one of the biggest servings of katsu you ’ll ever see , " he said . " Just a grown , fry — like it ’s shaped like the United States . "
OliviaDumbfoundead is not going to front : He ’s had the best salad of his sprightliness at Olivia .
The freshly open vegetarian maculation has already won Dumbfoundead ’s meat . With all the Korean barbecue and meat places in Koreatown , he tell it ’s refreshing to get a new , healthier addition to the vicinity .
sweetheart like fried Olea europaea , an amazing cheeseflower collection plate , and ( of course of instruction ) their salads are great options for when you ’re craving something refreshing and sizable . And do n’t forget their pizza ; they ’re super tasty and vegan , too .
Things to Do
Radio Korea PlazaIf you ’re a rooter of skateboard , peculiarly the not - so - legal sort , the plaza in front of Radio Korea is made for you .
" [ Radio Korea ] was one of the first radio station that broadcasted to the Korean immigrant residential area that did n’t address English very well , " Dumbfoundead explain . " And it ’s become one of the most ill-famed skateboarding places in the last 15 to 20 years . "
The sprawling flat plaza makes for a perfect skateboarding spot but , alas , there are many sign — as well as patrolling agents — that disallow the natural process .
What was the idiomatic expression ? " Out of mountain , out of psyche ? " You get it .
Shrine KaraokeThis is the ultimate dark - out - with - friends smudge . Music ? You have it . Drinks ? Ready and wait .
Owned by one of Dumbfoundead ’s friends , Shrine Karaoke is a classic Korean karaoke bar where every chemical group drive their own private party elbow room . " Sometimes I even just care to have the karaoke room and we just put on an aux and we just play our own playlist , " he say .
But do n’t think the karaoke will write out you any falling off . " It ’s restrain because they ’ll have the automatonlike score at the oddment , " Dumbfoundead suppose . " It ’s like , God damn , I thought I killed that ! "
