Anthony Bourdain Koreatown - Wilshire Colonnade in Koreatown in Los Angeles - photo by bahniuk under CC-BY-3.0
Wilshire Colonnade in Koreatown in Los Angeles - photo by bahniuk under CC-BY-3.0

Anthony Bourdain Koreatown: All Of The Restaurants Picked On Parts Unknown

The great Anthony Bourdain left his mark everywhere he went. When his death was announced to the world in June 2018, media throughout the globe chimed in and listed all the great things he had done for their respective city, town, province, country. Whereas before, tourists would shy away from exotic foods, thanks to him, travellers now go the extra mile to find and try local bites. With this in mind, here are all the restaurants Bourdain visited and the dishes he tasted when he shot Anthony Bourdain Koreatown, Los Angeles for his show, Parts Unknown Season 1 Episode 2 (originally aired April 21, 2013):

READ MORE: Seoul Travel Blog

DISH – Banchan, Roast Gui, Bulgogi and Kimchi-Bokkeum-bap

WHAT IS IT?

Banchan – small Korean side dishes served as appetizers, like pickles, preserves, kimchi and spicy squid snackers; Roast Gui – thinly-sliced beef rib eye; Bulgogi – thinly-sliced fat-marbled beef; Kimchi-Bokkeum-bap – kimchi fried rice.

READ MORE: KOREA: ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS PICKED BY ANTHONY BOURDAIN ON PARTS UNKNOWN

WHERE IS IT?

Dong Il Jang
3455 W 8th St
Los Angeles, CA, United States

Unfortunately, this restaurant has since closed its doors.

ANTHONY BOURDAIN KOREATOWN NOTES

In Parts Unknown Koreatown, Los Angeles, Anthony Bourdain described Dong Il Jang as “unwaveringly old school”.

DISH – Kogi Taco

WHAT IS IT?

Double-caramelized Korean barbecue short rib on fresh corn tortilla with salsa roja, cilantro-onion-lime relish, and a Napa cabbage Romaine slaw with chili-soy vinaigrette.

WHERE IS IT?

Kogi Taco Truck
One California Plaza, 300 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA, United States

It is now called “Kogi Tacqueria” and has now moved to a new place.

ANTHONY BOURDAIN KOREATOWN NOTES

Locations for the Kogi Taco trucks are announced on Twitter 30 minutes before they open.

DISH – Steak and Salsa

WHAT IS IT?

All-you-can-eat steak and salsa choices.

WHERE IS IT?

Sizzler
710 S Western Ave
Los Angeles, CA, United States

Unfortunately, this restaurant has since closed its doors.

ANTHONY BOURDAIN KOREATOWN NOTES

As Anthony Bourdain puts it, Sizzler is a “judgment-free zone”, “a world where you can explore incongruous combinations without shame or guilt”.

DISH – Bangladeshi Cuisine

WHAT IS IT?

Examples include curried goat, samosa, tandoori chicken, and Lahori fish curry.

WHERE IS IT?

Swadesh
4153 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA, United States

ANTHONY BOURDAIN KOREATOWN NOTES

According to Anthony Bourdain, the restaurant has “such fragrant, aromatic, delicious food”.
Unfortunately, this restaurant has closed its doors.

DISH – Aloha Burger, Spam Little Big Bite, and Halo-halo – Anthony Bourdain Koreatown

WHAT IS IT?

Aloha Burger – hamburger with a slice of pineapple; Spam Little Big Bite – spam sandwich; Halo-halo – red beans, white beans, chickpeas, cubes of red and green jelly, young white coconut, shaved ice, flan, ice cream and milk.

WHERE IS IT?

Jollibee
3821 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA, United States

ANTHONY BOURDAIN KOREATOWN NOTES

Jollibee is a Filipino fast-food chain.

DISH – Wangmandu and Mandu – Anthony Bourdain Koreatown

WHAT IS IT?

Wangmandu – king dumpling made of thick dough stuffed with pork, kimchi and vegetables; Mandu – smaller and thinner dumpling, served with chili paste.

WHERE IS IT?

Myung In Dumplings
3109 W Olympic Blvd B
Los Angeles, CA, United States

ANTHONY BOURDAIN KOREATOWN NOTES

A mix of Korean and Chinese restaurant that opened in 2007.

DISH – Sundubu – Parts Unknown Koreatown

WHAT IS IT?

Fiery tofu soup made of spicy red broth and soft tofu, with kimchi, beef, oysters and clams. An egg is cracked into it at tableside.

WHERE IS IT?     

Beverly Tofu House
2717 W Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA, United States

Unfortunately, this restaurant has since closed its doors.

ANTHONY BOURDAIN KOREATOWN NOTES

Beverly Soon Tofu Restaurant is tucked in a corner of a strip mall in Koreatown.

READ MORE: ANTHONY BOURDAIN SEOUL : ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS PICKED ON NO RESERVATIONS