3630 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90010 (213) 385-7789 After I found out authentic Chinese dumplings are probably not for many Koreans, I was not in the mood to try any dumplings anywhere. But subconsciously I must have wanted to compensate my disappointing experience in Beijing by finding an alternative place nearby in Los Angeles. All of sudden, I suggested this place Myung Dong Kyoja for Saturday lunch to a friend of mine. Dumplings, most of them made of pork, are not one of my favorites because of my personal eating habit grown from childhood. But often I have vegetable dumplings that can be ...

(photo from cbs.co.kr) Insam (ginseng roots, Panax ginseng) (photo from prkorea.com) Dates (Daechu) Until recently, I wasn't in favor of insam cha (ginseng tea), or any dish that has insam (ginseng) such as samgyetang (Korean chicken ginseng rice soup). I assume it was my natural reaction against my mother's forceful(?) feeding of insam whenever I visit my parents in Korea. She boils down ginseng with dates (daechu) in water and have all of my family eat it with honey. I appreciated her intention and efforts especially when ginseng is not cheap for us. But I just hated eating ginseng like that, or in any ...

Chung Ki Wa (Chung Gi Wa) in Los Angeles, CA Chungkiwa is a kind of a restaurant where I take non-Korean friends, families, or relatives. It's not a fancy restaurant as Chosun Galbi, but it is agreeable, it definitely has the taste and look of Korea, service is attentive, and food is very tasty. Their menu selection is not huge unlike some of Korean restaurants in Korea town. They must know a few popular dishes of theirs keep the reputation. Some of the loved dishes are Korean BBQ, Galbi, naengmyun (cold noodle), dolsot bibimbap (stone pot mixed rice) and pajeon (spring onion ...

About three years ago, that is sometime in 2005, hongcho (red vinegar), heuckcho (black vinegar) or gamsikcho (persimmon vinegar) got very popular in Korea. Those are various kinds of vinegar drinks that are fermented from fruit or grain and watered down so people can drink it easily. When I heard about this vinegar boom a few months later in America, I thought some Koreans don't mind eating or drinking weird stuff just to get healthy. It was my typical judgment on that as another Korean living outside of the country. Except the rumor(?) that Chinese circus girls and boys are ...