Not Your Average Bakery

Where do you get your bread? I'm guessing the local supermarket, such as Ralphs, Vons, or Albertsons in the bread and pastries section. But that's no fun. I'm willing to bet that bread sold in the supermarkets is not as freshly baked as bread from a bakery. It seems like more and more bakeries in Los Angeles are going out of business these days. Here's where Korean bakeries come into play. Korean bakeries are like the hidden gems of Los Angeles. In these pastry heavens, you can find freshly baked bread, cakes, desserts, cupcakes, and many more straight from the oven everyday. I would much rather buy my bread from an actual bakery that bakes their bread every morning and throughout the day than from the supermarket, where bread is likely mass-produced and distributed by huge corporations. Believe it or not, there are over 50 Korean bakeries located in just Koreatown (others are located in the Korean communities of Orange County). One of my personal favorites, which will soon become yours as well, is Paris Baguette. But most Korean bakeries more or less provide similar experiences, which I will go into more detail now.

The cool thing about these Korean bakeries is that you can buy single-serving bread that is individually packaged. This makes it extremely convenient to bring to school, work, or even a picnic. The variety of pastries and desserts offered is unmatched, as I have been going to these bakeries ever since I was a kid and still have yet to try every single flavor. You might find the peanut butter cream, sweet red bean taste, sweet potato filled breads, or the mocha frappe cream-filled breads to your liking, just to name a few. If you are looking for a more meaty lunch rather than a sweet dessert, they offer bread with sliced sausages embedded into the soft pastries and also a pizza type of bread as well. Korean cakes are also much more detailed and scrumptious than the same-old normal icing cakes sold at supermarkets, in my opinion. The cakes range from fruits to sweet potato to mocha frappe cakes. It's truly amazing to see so much variety offered in a small little bakery! The prices are very wallet-friendly, as well. Nothing more need be said. Right?

Your Seoul Survivor,
Albert Ko

Starbucks, Where Art Thou?

In this day and age, you can find a Starbucks anywhere, especially in a major city. But not in Koreatown; you will be lucky if you find more than two in this region that totals approximately 125,000 people over 2.7 square miles. Why hasn't Starbucks been able to penetrate this extremely dense market? Simply because of the Korean Cafés. If you haven't been to one of these cafés, I highly recommend that you Yelp "Cafes" in "Koreatown." These coffee shops are not your average Starbucks or Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's, but they provide a full-service social experience. Many youngsters and students use these cafés as their local hangout or study spots because of their hip atmospheres and tasty drinks and desserts. Every corner you turn in Koreatown, you will see either a Tom & Tom's, Caffé Bene, and many others. Although they all pretty much similar in their products and services, I tend to favor "Mr. Coffee" over the others. This coffee shop is located on Western Ave & 6th St. I come here at least once a week with my friends just to chill and catch up on each others' busy and fun-filled lives. All of these café's provide free wi-fi and some even have playing cards and board games for you and your group to compete with. The main reason my friends and I always come to Mr. Coffee is because their Pat Bing Soo is to die for. Pat Bing Soo is basically a Korean-style shaved ice dessert, which is served with ice cream, sweet red beans, mochi, fruits, and fruity pebbles all mixed together for a heavenly dessert dish. If that picture doesn't make you drool, I highly recommend that you visit your local doctor. These desserts come in generous portions, so you can order just one for your whole group! Next time you're in Koreatown with a bunch of friends and need a place to hang out, visit a Korean Café! You won't regret it!

Your Seoul Survivor,

Albert Ko