KOREATOWN: NYC

I don't think that it is any big secret that I've fallen in love with all things Korean.

I love the Korean language.

I love Korean television.

The Korean drama "You're Beautiful"

I love Korean music.

The KPOP band B2ST

I love Korean food.

BiBimBop (비빔밥)

And I LOVE Korean boys.

Jang Hyuk, raw manliness.

So, needless to say...when I found myself in the center of New York City, I was utterly compelled to visit Koreatown.

Now, K-Town NYC isn't very big. It essentially makes up one block on 32nd Ave in between Broadway and 6th in Midtown. But for someone from a small town in Washington State, I may as well have been in heaven. Everywhere I looked there were Korean people, restaurants, karoake bars, markets, and even the infamous (to me anyway) Face Shop. Oddly enough, the Face Shop catered to the needs of the face...it was awesome.

My first visit to K-Town was with my sister, Heather. It was late at night after our press experience (see previous post) for the opening gala of the NYCIFF. We decided to do the crazy thing and go see it despite the late hour (and yes, I had no idea that late to me was merely warming up to NYC).
I even let my insane sister talk me into walking the 13 blocks there. Now, 13 blocks wouldn't have been so bad...if I hadn't been wearing Death by Shoe. By the time we arrived I was limping like a professional and barely able to enjoy the moment. So what did we do?

We looked for food! Any responsible human being knows that the best response to pain is sumptuous dining (I will currently ignore any contradictory opinions).
As we walked down the street we realized that every single restaurant was packed right out the doors...and we really, reeeaaally just wanted to sit down already. So we made a risky move and picked the one place that seemed empty. Lucky for us, it was only empty on the bottom floor...which didn't serve bulgogi (fan-freaking-tastic Korean BBQ also known as 불고기).  It did, however, serve exactly what I had been dying for a year to try. Ddeokbokki (떡볶이)!

Ddeokbokki, Bibimbap, and side dishes (REFILLABLE side dishes...per Korean tradition)

Heather eating Ddeokbokkie while I stare wistfully into the camera.

Me eating a mushroom. Don't ask me why this is what was captured...because I spent 99.9% of my time eating Ddeokbokkie and Squid.

Thus, full of love and happiness and ddeokbokkie we snagged a taxi and headed back to our hotel for some much needed sleep (which we didn't actually get for several more hours).

The next day was an exercise in patience (an exercise which I failed at every turn), but after our last red carpet event (see here) the whole family (mom, dad, Heather, Danny, Jubie, & myself) grabbed two taxis and headed back to K-Town for dinner. We got quite a few funny glances as half of us were wearing black tie and the other half were in jeans. I was also bowing profusely to everyone who greeted us upon entrance...which amused each one of them to no end. ;)

Jubie eating the Spicy Tofu Seafood Soup that I ordered her...because it was AWESOME.

Korean Food Post-Steely Attack

When we had stuffed ourselves we walked outside so I could take some typical tourist photos.

And then we walked across the street (funny how in Washington this is a simple procedure...yet in New York, it's like walking the plank) to a shop called Pinkberry. I have no idea if this is even a Korean store, but it was in K-Town and it was fantasmic.

It was irresistible.

Jubie and I couldn't choose...so we split. Mango FroYo with Mango and Mochi pieces and Chocolate FroYo with Heath and Dark Chocolate pieces.

Heather and Danny enjoying their respective Pinkberries.

Mom was also unable to resist the Pinkberry call.

After this we got ourselves home and to bed...but the very next day Jubie and I went BACK to K-Town to tempt ourselves in a store drenched with the latest Kdramas, KPop, and all things awesome. Three days in NYC and I couldn't resist the Korean call for a single day. Lest I haven't been clear...Koreans are fantastic. If you ever get a chance to spend time with a Korean or eat Korean food...jump at it. You never know, you could just be the next victim to fall prey to "The Korean Way".