cafes in koreatown

[grandpa_shig]

so i just moved down here. into ktown. and i'll be goddamned if i pay $5 for a watered down shitty cup of coffee. can anyone suggest good coffee in koreatown?

[grandpa_shig]

right? $1 for the cup and $4 for dude to run down to the gas station, pour a cup of joe and bring it back. shit is ridiculous.

[lakebottom]

dude, just go to one of those delis and get a $.50-65 cup of coffee.

[grandpa_shig]

to be honest, ive been to a ktown cafe once. i know all their coffee is shit cuz ive been told. what i want is a good cup of coffee, be it 65 cents or $5. is this possible in ktown?

[lakebottom]

maybe you should alter your strategy. when in Koreatown, do as the Koreans do and drink hot tea, or bacchus-d, or boreecha, or whatever they drink.

then for under a buck coffee, go to a deli or a street vendor.

[lakebottom]

wait, which Koreatown are you speaking of?

[grandpa_shig]

so what youre saying is there is no good coffee in koreatown?

koreatown, LA. and i know there's a new jeru and manhatta west side jernt but come on. koreatown is koreatown.:)

[lakebottom]

Oh, woopsy daisy.

I've never been to the one in LA. I've been to the one in Tacoma, though.

Koreans love to congregate and make churches, restaurants, and markets.

[Johnney5]

HAHAHA at first i thought you meant ktown cafes as the ones you drink alcohol at. actually, i think that's the only kind of cafe they have there.

[grandpa_shig]

Originally posted by Poppunk
HAHAHA at first i thought you meant ktown cafes as the ones you drink alcohol at. actually, i think that's the only kind of cafe they have there.

really? well then i gotta switch up my game plan.

still no recommendations on that other liquid addiction?

[Johnney5]

the only one i know of is, i believe on 3rd? by vermont...it's called monte carlo or some shit. it is kinda high budge...but then again, the last time we were there, my friends didn't complain about the joe there, and they're coffee nazis.

[grandpa_shig]

Originally posted by Poppunk
the only one i know of is, i believe on 3rd? by vermont...it's called monte carlo or some shit. it is kinda high budge...but then again, the last time we were there, my friends didn't complain about the joe there, and they're coffee nazis.

thank you!

i see that joint every day. its actually on 6th near vermont.

[slackerbot]

koreans and good coffee don't belong in the same sentence. most have been brought up on Taster's Choice instant coffee. sheesh. :p

Lakebottom makes a good point.. koreans like to hang out and shoot the shit. and they like to do it over coffee. doesn't matter how good/bad the coffee is, as long as the conversation keeps going, then it's all good. strange thing though.. i have noticed that some Starbucks locations are packed with koreans on sundays. maybe they finally realize that the coffee is bad at korean coffee shops? well, Starbucks isn't all the great either but at least it's a step forward. ;)

[fmstlr]

fuck koreatown. shits sucks there, 'cept for the Thai restaurants.

You need to go north a few miles to get good cafe-ing.

[grandpa_shig]

they do. but i try and stay away when i can.

[grandpa_shig]

a good cup of coffee?

[grandpa_shig]

Originally posted by puppy fields
that's what immigrants do? either a nail salon or a donut shop...right?

or am i being ass?



yes you are. but that's okay cuz the shits funny.

[nancyK]

they use illy at Coffee Cana on Wilshire & Wilton(or somewhere near Wilton). cute decor. but we never get the coffee there.. just the Korean Shaved Ice..

um btw.
nobody in Koreatown goes to a cafe for "coffee". they go to "moo deuh jab uh".. or to create a mood... they're cheesy like that.

[nancyK]

there's Coffee Bean if you go down Beverly a lil.. or on Larchmont & 1st St.. or near the Farmer's Mkt..


Oh! There's good coffee at this place near LACMA (on wilshire & masselin) called Black Dog Coffee.. their Soy Lattes are GOOD... good food too.

[grandpa_shig]

well, i have a stovetop italian espresso maker which i love. but i want to be outside with the people reading books and shit.



wilshire and wilton is also nearby and illy is called that for a reason, but it beats taster's choice.

in any case, thanks for all the hints. it will be put to good use.

[nancyK]

for reading books and stuff, i just go to Barnes at the Grove.

korean cafes are only good for gossiping and breaking up

[nancyK]

"moo deuh" = mood
"jab uh" = 'to catch' in korean

[grandpa_shig]

Originally posted by nancyK
for reading books and stuff, i just go to Barnes at the Grove.



ok, i went to this place for the first time this afternoon. seriously, what the fuck is this? i just moved here from the bay and im trying to understand the culture down here. but if i were to draw a picture of what is lame about socal, itd look something like the grove. sorry LAgelinos

[nancyK]

yea yea whatever cool guy.

give it a couple of months

[nancyK]

i don't like shopping there and i hate the congestion in the parking structure.
BUT
i like the movie theatre at the grove cuz i get discount tix at work.
i like the greek restaurant cuz they give u olive bread & dip.
i like coffee bean.
i like barnes..
but you're right.. there are more and more asians congregating there to chitchat obnoxiously while people are trying to have a nice relaxing read.

and people bring their dogs to the grove alot. i like to oogle at other people's dogs.. yumm.

[grandpa_shig]

Originally posted by nancyK
yea yea whatever cool guy.

give it a couple of months

there there. didnt mean to offend you. there are actually lots of things i like about LA. but the grove and ktown "cafes" arent them. sayin, there were tour buses at the grove. that's a clear sign of some corny ass shit.

[35ft6]

So is a place defined by the type of people that go there? Once everybody knows about a place, it ceases to be cool, just like when everybody knows about a band they're not cool any more? I don't get it. The Grove has a good food court.

[slackerbot]

Originally posted by grandpa_shig


ok, i went to this place for the first time this afternoon. seriously, what the fuck is this? i just moved here from the bay and im trying to understand the culture down here. but if i were to draw a picture of what is lame about socal, itd look something like the grove. sorry LAgelinos
haha.. you should've checked these threads before moving here. ;)

http://giantrobot.com/forums/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=29738

http://giantrobot.com/forums/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=29239

but yeah, LA doesn't have a sense of community. people here pretty much keep to themselves.

[invictus]

Originally posted by slackerbot
koreans and good coffee don't belong in the same sentence. most have been brought up on Taster's Choice instant coffee. sheesh. :p


For real though. The worst coffee I've ever had was in Seoul. It's all about the instant coffee with a very high cream and sugar ratio.

[fancyk]

Originally posted by grandpa_shig
but if i were to draw a picture of what is lame about socal, itd look something like the grove. sorry LAgelinos

I like how close it is to the Farmers Market. They have good food there. Then you can go catch a movie.

-k

[invictus]

Originally posted by 35ft6
So is a place defined by the type of people that go there? Once everybody knows about a place, it ceases to be cool, just like when everybody knows about a band they're not cool any more? I don't get it. The Grove has a good food court.

Oh... you did not just call the Farmer's Market a "food court".... I don't see no Hot Dog on a Stick up in that joint?!!

[cabbagechild]

YEAH, SHIET!

YO ASS MUST BE CRAZEE.

[cabbagechild]

IT AIN'T NO FOOD COURT!

[cabbagechild]

okay, i'm okay now.

[fmstlr]

even among farmer's markets, there are good ones and bad ones.

the one next to the GARAOVFE is mediocre in terms of produce, decent in terms of community building, below average in terms of atmosphere (mostly because of the monstrosity of capitalism next to it).

[invictus]

It's not their fault the Grove took a big dump next to it!! And the food can NOT be considered food court fare....

[fancyk]

I don't know of any food court (except maybe in Mississippi) where you can get alligator tacos.

-k

[nancyK]

I had the Smoked Salmon Sandwich at The Crepe place in farmer's market.. comes with toasted wheat bread and balsamic vinegar and plain yogurt. YUM.. their baked Goat Chz Salad was very YUM too.

but the other places i've tried at farmers market so far weren't so yummy.

[grandpa_shig]

Originally posted by 35ft6
So is a place defined by the type of people that go there? Once everybody knows about a place, it ceases to be cool, just like when everybody knows about a band they're not cool any more? I don't get it. The Grove has a good food court.

well, id say yes. places are somewhat defined by who goes there. but my dislike of the grove stems from its horrendous use of space. i mean, the place looks like a mix between disneyland, and an american take on european cosmopolitan. if LA is so great, why are folks constantly trying to build spaces for themselves that emulate anything but LA? the grove seems like it was plopped down in the middle of west la. it neither compliments the surrounding space nor is it aesthetically original. its almost like it was built to double as a set for a b movie about your senior trip to europe.

sorry for the rant, but i guess the grove offends me more than i care to admit.

with that said, if i got discount tickets to the movie theatre id be singing a different song.


oh, and "farmers market" kind of implies that thered be farmers there selling goods. i think i saw 1 fruit stand and about 5 crappy souvenir shops.

[Aser]

Originally posted by nancyK
and people bring their dogs to the grove alot. i like to oogle at other people's dogs.. yumm.

I take it you're korean....

haha, I kid.

[tangent23]

Originally posted by invictus


For real though. The worst coffee I've ever had was in Seoul. It's all about the instant coffee with a very high cream and sugar ratio.

what's with that powdered dairy substitute shit they use instead of milk or cream? do they still do that?

[slackerbot]

my parents finally upgraded to the liquid form of Coffee Mate. ew.

[35ft6]

Originally posted by grandpa_shig
well, id say yes. places are somewhat defined by who goes there. I would say this is true for places like, say, bars where it's all about the scene/people, but I'm not so sure about a shopping mall. Or is it? I don't know. Maybe you're right. I've just noticed this phenomena with music where people love a band until everybody finds out about them. I mean the music didn't change, and is it about the music? Or about exclusivity? Just rambling.but my dislike of the grove stems from its horrendous use of space. LA seems to have a lot of space. if LA is so great, why are folks constantly trying to build spaces for themselves that emulate anything but LA? This happens everywhere. Aside from the fact that I'm not sure I know what LA's indigenous architectural scheme is.the grove seems like it was plopped down in the middle of west la. Is that area considered west LA? Everything around there looks like shit anyways. I sort of thought The Grove was an oasis of cute considering the surroundings are blegh.

Dude, I'm just rambling because I'm bored. I don't really give a shit about any of this. I saw Billy Zane at the Barnes there. He's strange. He seemed to be pretending to be looking at something, but mostly just standing there.

[invictus]

Billy Zane must have a thing for people who post on the Lounge. He was also spotted at a Blonde Redhead show that was attended by many GR folk.... he's trying to steal our cool.

[35ft6]

Billy Zane would be a great Bond villain. I should be a fucking casting director. I had to watch that America's Next Action Hero finale/movie because my friend co-wrote the script. Billy was the only real actor in it and I realized I appreciate Zane man. He's unconventional.

[fmstlr]

Originally posted by grandpa_shig
oh, and "farmers market" kind of implies that thered be farmers there selling goods. i think i saw 1 fruit stand and about 5 crappy souvenir shops.

[ja.net]

The Grove is great! Cheaper than acid and twice as unreal.

[fmstlr]

exactamento.

the whole point of creating these surreal surroundings is to keep people from thinking about their purchases rationally, making the act of shopping disassociate from considerations regarding budget, needs and waste.

[35ft6]

^^ Jesus, is The Grove really that fantastical? making the act of shopping disassociate from considerations regarding budget, needs and waste. Isn't this the point of all advertising campaigns? I mean if pharmaceutical companies want you to diagnose yourself and tell your doctor what to give you... I mean why should a mall be any different. Aside from the fact I don't really see how the design scheme of The Grove can really do everything you say it does.

[cabbagechild]

billy zane would make a good villain

[TypeFiend]

Originally posted by grandpa_shig


ok, i went to this place for the first time this afternoon. seriously, what the fuck is this? i just moved here from the bay and im trying to understand the culture down here. but if i were to draw a picture of what is lame about socal, itd look something like the grove. sorry LAgelinos

At the same time, an example of what makes LA wonderful is attached to that very same shopping areas as The Grove: the Fairfax Farmer's Market. Don't know about the coffee, but if you want genuine and historic LA native culture that has been left fairly untainted, head over to that west end.

[grandpa_shig]

REPORT FROM THE FIELD:

so i hit a few cafes in the neighborhood. montecarlo is pretty good, but im digging koffea. the interior is a bit more charming and they have an outdoor patio. the coffee is still a little weak for my taste but the house coffee is actually an americano and has a nice carmelly head.

i went with a friend of mine and was subjected first hand to the shittier side of ktown. racists. we had bbq at some joint down the street and didnt even get menus til i walked up to the counter and asked for one. and then i had to walk up to the counter again to order. we got eyeballed everywhere we went [koffea, korean bbq joint, pc bang, walking down 6th]. even some korean grandpa hawking grapeseed oil out a box had attitude. fuck i hate LA. is it just me or do ktown koreans hate black folks? what is this shit around here?

[wonki wonki]

I'm sorry to hear about your experiences. Most Koreans with closer roots to their traditional culture tend to have some form of racist tendencies. This is a generalization, I know, but unfortunately it's true.

[grandpa_shig]

thanks man. im just venting. i felt guilty about the whole thing. trying to spread the gospel of korean bbq and i get these ajima mofos flashing on my boy. not cool.

[grandpa_shig]

so. on our way home from a halloween party in the artist district, my homies car breaks down 4 blocks from my spot in koreatown. we hit the streets asking dudes for a jump and we get this korean dude to help us. but not without this caveat

my homie: can you give us a jump?
korean dude: uh, are you korean?
my homie: uh, yeah.
korean dude: cool. i thought so. i aint helping no "chong-ens".

my homie, who actually is korean, said "chong-ens" meant japanese folks. but we both thought it sounded more like "chongul" [chinese]. anyone know what this means? some korean slang?

[fmstlr]

after you got the jump, did you tell him that your homie is really "chong-ens"? Just to piss him off?

[grandpa_shig]

Originally posted by fmstlr
after you got the jump, did you tell him that your homie is really "chong-ens"? Just to piss him off?

that wouldve been the move. unfortunately, the car didnt jump so we just chilled for a minute til the triple a dude showed.


CHONG-EN AND PROUD

[nancyK]

hahah yeah i read that article too. You know America's only #1 cuz so many korean americans go on missions.

anyways grandpa, it's true that koreans are racist but so is everyone else. there's probably still alot of animosity left towards black and mexican people cuz of the LA riots way back when. dude, koreans are still mad at Japan for the Korean war so don't take it too personally. about the bad service from the ajumas, that's pretty much how they treat me too. if you've ever been a waitress and served koreans night and day, you'd probly treat ur customers like sht too. i've been there and learned not to waste my time or energy on those obsessively perm-haired coffee guzzling golf playing SUV driving ajooms. i apologize on behalf of my people.

Koffea is pretty. There's a new cafe at the Intercrew plaza on Alexandria and 6th where the pool place used to be. cute atmosphere and china. but i still like Coffee Cana on Wilshire & Wilton(ish area).

[grandpa_shig]

though i agree that most ethnic immigrants in this country are extremely racist, i gotta say it feels more so down here. the LA korean is a whole different species unto itself if you ask me. i think the fact that LA has ethnic neighborhoods only furthers this fear of the other. i cant believe its been over 10 years since the riot and mufukers still acting dumb. it feels like LA is just a court case away from another full blown all out race riot, and thats sad.

anyways, thanks for the support and tips on coffee. its been ~3 months since i moved here from the bay and im slowly starting to feel my way around. oddly enough, i dig the outlying communities more than LA proper. the san gabriel valley is the lick. it has all the things LA has to offer, minus the attitude. the south bay is ill too. but motherfuck the OC and those cracker ass skinhead fools. i didnt even realize they still existed.