Hidden Culture: Finding Korea in Northern Virginia

Korean karaoke

Feature photo: etrepum / All other photos by author

Theres a reason my hometown of Annandale is nicknamed Koreatown.

NOT UNTIL we started study Korean in college did we sense that. East Asian culture permeates many areas of Northern Virginia as well as is easily accessible for Washingtonians fervent to knowledge it. Here have been a little great places to start:

Lighthouse Tofu

Location: Annandale
Yelp review: http://www.yelp.com/biz/lighthouse-tofu-annandale

This understated grill serves a accumulation of soondubu soothing tofu soup. The interior dcor may seem reserved, though its suggestive of normal restaurants found in Korea. Servers greet congregation with ice-cold barley H2O as well as a common panchan (starter dishes).

After determining that soondubu to order, youll additionally need to mention a preferred level of spiciness; a grill offers 5 levels of heat for a customizable dish. Remember to crack a raw egg supposing over a soup prior to digging in.

Honey Pig (Gooldaegee)

Location: Annandale
Yelp review: http://www.yelp.com/biz/honey-pig-gooldaegee-korean-grill-annandale

I find weekends most appropriate here as a place is some-more about a throng as well as ambience than its food. Each list is versed with a BBQ grill as well as lonesome with panchan. The loud modern American as well as Korean cocktail hits as well as soju (Korean vodka) make it a single of a most beguiling places to be upon a Friday night as distant as Im concerned.

Shilla Bakery

Two warnings for non-Koreans: communicating with a staff without a translator can be awkward, as well as a alien soju costs $10 a bottle.

Shilla Bakery

Location: Annandale
Yelp review: http://www.yelp.com/biz/shilla-b! akery-an nandale

Shilla Bakery has a great supply of unique Korean breads as well as goodies. Nothings too expensive, that creates for great sampling potential. Highlights for me have been a yogurt bread, sugarine donuts, tangy frozen yogurt, cakes, as well as bubble tea.

In line with Korean tastes, a bakery offers assorted red bean desserts as well, including a single called red bean bingsoo (Chinese ice cream), that is a mixture of shaved ice, red beans, rice cakes, ice cream, as well as syrup.

Ara

Location: Annandale
Website: http://www.ararestaurant.com/

When we was new to a Korean scene, we was excited to dance a night divided to my favorite K-pop songs during this much talked-about club. Unfortunately, from what Ive seen, a Koreans during Ara arent a dancing type.

But that doesnt mean we shouldnt go. Its sharp-witted upon both weekends as well as week nights, as well as a overwhelmingly Korean throng is enough to make a single feel as if theyve landed in downtown Seoul. The restaurant/club additionally has in isolation karaoke bedrooms most appropriate to book in advance.

Caf U&I

Location: Annandale
Yelp review: http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-u-and-i-annandale

An pick to a bedrooms during Ara, Caf U&I rents in isolation bedrooms by a hour (prices formed upon room size). The smallest bedrooms have been a bit snug, though get beautiful as well as dance upon a couches if need be.

Shilla Bakery

The largest room is versed with a projection TV in further to a tiny monitor upon a opposite wall for reading lyrics whilst facing a crowd. The doors in all of a bedrooms have a potion window, so be rebuilt to have a little congregation peek in whilst walking by. we similar to to consider of it as my low-pitched debut.

Woo Lae Oak

Location: Tysons Corner
Website: http://www.woolaeoak.com/

Woo Lae Oak ! is a som e-more modern as well as upscale take upon Korean dining, with high-quality food in a subdued atmosphere. While a common panchan is missing from a tables, a Korean BBQ is built right in.

Be wakeful that a waitress will mount during a list as well as lend towards to a BBQ, though a norm is to keep eating as well as chatting. If youre lucky similar to me, we might see a normal marriage rehearsal cooking receiving place in a behind room.

Spa World (jimjibang)

Location: Centreville
Website: http://www.spaworldusa.com/

Spa World has two sections: a single distant by gender as well as an additional a community area. The initial territory is a locker room as well as bathroom, finish with effervescent pools as well as showering room rooms. Fair warning: youre required to be exposed here. My tip would be to showering thoroughly prior to entering a H2O since Korean women lend towards to keep upon additional eye upon a practice of non-Koreans.

Afterwards, chuck upon a orange outfit supposing by a front table as well as come in a community area. This vast room has a garland of flat-screen TVs display Korean talk shows; spa-goers stretch across a building upon vast pillows as well as a restaurant/snack club is available.

I would suggest on vacation each of a poultice bedrooms where temperatures can strech some-more than 170 degrees. Later, do as a Koreans do, as well as grab a normal hard-boiled egg with salt. The $35 opening price lasts for 24 hours, definition guests can stay in a womens or mens sleeping room as well as strike a spa initial thing in a morning.

Massages cost additional as well as have been customarily usually supposing in between 10AM as well as 11PM.

H-Mart
H Mart

Location: Falls Church
Website: http://www.hmart.com/

Are we longing kimchi or chilsung? If so, make your way to H-Mart, a fully-stocked Korean g! rocery s tore. This sequence store provides all from dried seaweed to live abalone.

Conveniently, many Korean meals similar to yubu chobap (rice in a tiny bean pita) as well as dokbokki (spicy rice cakes) come in easy-to-make kits, although a little directions have been usually in Korean.

If a suspicion of making these meals becomes too overwhelming, just sit down during a tiny grill club inside a little of a stores; assorted Korean as well as Japanese meals can be systematic upon a spot.

Community Connection

Did we know there have been additionally lots of Koreans inMexico City?


Comments

Lydia Kim said…
omg, it's in my neighbor Lol
November 12, 2011 at 10:19 AM
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