Local Lens: David Chang’s guide to Koreatown, Los Angeles

Chef David Chang shows us his Koreatown: Restaurants for the best dumplings, soup, short ribs and dessert
Read our interview: expedia.com/ma...
According to David Chang, there are five reasons people visit Koreatown: the spas, karaoke, parties, music concerts, and of course-the delicious Korean food.
From his own Momofuku chain to Netflix’s Ugly Delicious, Chang has built a restaurant and TV empire on being an equal opportunities food obsessive. If tastes good, it is good.
Naturally, we begin our Koreatown tour by sampling the food. We start at Ham Hung, a restaurant known specifically for Pyongyang naengmyeon, a chewy buckwheat noodle soup. We then head next door to Myung In Dumplings for the freshly steamed, baseball-sized buns; and finish up at MuMu Bakery for an enormous cream cheese-topped iced coffee and taiyaki-a custard-filled pastry dessert.
To work up an appetite for dinner, Chang plays golf at the four-floor, netting-encased driving range, Aroma Golf.
Then, time for spicy galbi-jjim, braised short ribs, at Sun Nong Dan with local friends, musician Rekstizzy and artist Dumbfoundead.
We round off the day with a drink at the kitsch bar H.M.S. Bounty, which embodies some of K-Town’s old-school Hollywood glamour.

[@zantigar]

I'm a Korean American who grew up here in LA from the 70's when K-town was just the small Olympic Market on Olympic Blvd., and this just brings tears to my eyes - you sure have come a long way, baby! Thanks for showing the joy!

[@abe_5536]

Vibe's got me nostalgic for a place I've never been to. Thanks.

[@arlpoon6423]

The editing of this video is AWESOME!

[@Tiffany-uu2hq]

“They deserve a raise”!!!

[@bdecelian]

The sound design and mixing is way too good for this type of content-- There should be credits on this video or in the description!

[@justinteichen5466]

@@bdecelianI totally agree I wish they gave credits!

[@Joshprezgay]

Beautiful homage to an incredible part of Los Angeles and some great suggestions!

[@dmarkj22]

I love the shot of David walking out of one restaurant and into the bakery next-door. Lol That is SO David Chang and something that I would do!!

[@redtski]

Oh my, i ADORE this video. The filming, the editing, the narration, the homey feel of it all. It's so nostalgic and warm. Also, the way you noted how all the signs are in Korean - that's one of my fav parts about visiting Koreatowns and ethnic enclaves here in the greater LA area, too. These neighborhoods truly feel like their own little world/country. 10/10 video 😁

[@daniellee6398]

Nice homage to K-Town, David! I’m not from Cali but have been to some good restaurants in Koreatown. I got some good tips for next time I’m in town!

[@dante340]

I've always thought Koreatown actually feels WAY more like a real Downtown than LA's actual Downtown does lol

[@Nomaduser]

love the vibe

[@fincat707]

I didn't know expedia made travel content on YT, great to see Chang

[@vincentvegan_]

This video looks so modern and pretty like a Neflix movie 🎬

[@areuokay4984]

thanks mr chang i’ll have a visit soon

[@nan5715]

Back in the day the clubbing scene was awesome and the food after

[@ethanmcwilliams8890]

Please make the travel guide videos again. I miss watching new ones

[@chul-min]

[@jackmcgrath9650]

Beautifully shot

[@andyperez9168]

I've stayed in this part of LA at least a half dozen times, whenever I make a visit to go see my friends. For some reason, parts of K-Town looks very dense based on population. There is so much what this district has to offer but for me, I like it.

[@alexl9537]

It used the have the most populous zip code in the country, not sure if that's still the case

[@ree3197]

The guy with his hair pulled back is.. . 🤤 ... Dreamy.. hii 🙋🏾‍♀️✨

[@brozors]

Ham Hung is legit. The chewiest noodles I've ever had in my life. It was so chewy that I gagged on a mouthful and ended up coughing it out.

[@DfoMobileEnglishWhen]

bruh i actually searched the ad to rewatch it

[@jeaninecooks]

loving the local lens series :)

[@jlee222ballin]

my neighborhood, Ktown

[@TheJinuke]

Of all the countries, I've been to Korea has the best food, it's fun, best safe, the people are kind, the public facilities are advance thechnology and comfortable, and it's a country I want to live in for of my life.

[@SuzanoSho]

Man, I used to watch Dumbfoundead's rap battles when I was younger lol. He's barely aged.

[@eljefeelpadron1843]

K-Town is definitely making its mark on American pop culture.

[@TravellerCityGuide]

Verry intresting video, i'd liked to watch it :)) Cheers

[@andrewbinns5035]

I strongly suggest movie called 'Murder Death Koreatown (MDK)' it's great.

[@jaychu3850]

K Town is the hottest night life in all of LA. Restaurants busy at midnight. People on the streets.

[@ilovepugs99]

It's too much for me. I used to work Uber Eats down there on the weekends and the parking is horrendous. Also the area is 99% apartment buildings. Definitely not somewhere you live if you like quiet !!

[@jordanjohnson9866]

Nah. Not hottest. Not “hottest.” Not “hottest”. /

[@michaelkb8783]

My town ❤

[@asvtravellingtheworld]

I hope you restart the travel guide videos.

[@kayang333]

dude it's called Bungeo-ppang, not Taiyaki. It's K-town...

[@c7lee]

Video was already valid, but became more valid once Dumbfounded made an appearance 🙏

[@woolfel]

I grew up in souther CA and ktown is awesome.

[@edwardkim8972]

Dave grew-up in Virgina and lives in NYC. What does he know about LA Koreatown?... lol!

[@MrWhiterunGuard]

What level is raw crab? I'm still trying to work up my courage for that.

[@mikes2654]

Ok…. next time! So true.

[@JohnFreakingPeanut]

The very first thing I look for when I dine in Asian restaurants is, to see if there are other Asians there dinning. If not, i know the food is garbage and the food/flavors are not catered to Asian flavor palette. Big red flag.

[@korswe]

Not true. I’ve had some bad foods where only the locals ate.

[@Seyno2-h0ck-9w3is]

Dude!! how dare you insult David Chang's NYC restaurants.

[@LutisoskaBossFestime]

☕

[@escoszickest]

Dumbfoundead with the cameo 🙌🏽

[@entrovertmusic]

🙏🖤

[@ceeIoc]

The REALLY advanced level is soondae and chungookjang 😂

[@CharlsonCKim]

the really advanced stuff is illegal

[@wenceslarsleauxdegrance2319]

❤

[@ot7stan207]

why did u subtitle him talking..

[@donttakefakecredit]

why would you bring up spaws and not mention 1

[@lindakim6253]

How do you talk about Koreatown and not go to Chapman Plaza literally the Mecca smh

[@areuokay4984]

0:35

[@DefensisIndus]

What's crazy about ethnic neighborhoods in USA is that the immigrants can still come here without knowing much English because the neighborhoods are built in the language of their motherland. Sometimes you just can't find that in other Western countries...

[@jordanjohnson9866]

Nah. Not crazy. Not “crazy.” Not “crazy”. /

[@dxcSOUL]

Green Elton John.

[@graceintheplace13]

We’re the fucking best. 😝

[@Jazzlobotomy]

Black history month protection racket

[@ivandevin9236]

I definitely avoid Korean restaurant with more Non-Korean patrons than Koreans. That is sign that their dishes are gear toward Non-Korean taste.

[@mikes4986]

David Chang is an insufferable self-promoter. Not sure why he is still being listened to today. He is a Virginian with a bunch of restaurants in New York, but he is going to let you in on the secrets of LA? Koreatown has great food? Yeah, everyone saw that on The Bourdain show 10 years ago. If you live in LA, you’ve known this all your life. And, David Chang may currently live in LA, but he is no Angeleno. It’s a pit stop before he heads back to his natural habitat; the rude and coarse East Coast.

[@broprah1412]

Facts, dont ask David Chang about Korean anything and stop making him your token Korean guide, he doesnt represent us. Hearing him speak I cant think of anyone who hates being Korean more than him. What a fairweather Korean. He regularly trashes Koreans and Korean culture I cant think of a more worse representative.

[@wasdwasdwasd]

preach

[@mikes4986]

@@wasdwasdwasd Haha. I attended the same Culinary School as David Chang and the Chefs that had taught David, hated David. Having seen several programs that featured David shitting on his colleagues and blaming every imperfection on them, I am not surprised.

[@wasdwasdwasd]

@@mikes4986 the guy made pulled pork and calls it bossam. The disrespect....

[@mikes4986]

@@wasdwasdwasd Lazy self-promoter willing to exploit his Korean heritage by making pulled pork and promoting it as bossam. Loves money and fame more than dignity, respect, and accomplishment. Well, that's who are media promotes; a bunch of phonies. Support good local restaurants/chefs and boycott the corporate soulless chains and Hollywood chefs.

[@kakutv1696]

Wow, dumbfoundead has appeared

[@Bacalaoconqueso]

Canal con bots

[@warrenfong500]

That guy needs to go on a diet.

[@armankhandoker9581]

This channel owner and management team is frot,

[@jkk2940]

can david chang even speak korean?

[@broprah1412]

are yo kidding me David Chang hates being Korean with every fiber in his body. F that guy

[@jodymazzarese5151]

Other countries expect Americans to speak their language when visiting or moving to but, only in America can you set up mini hometown communities that services basically to that community and not speak a word of English. There are literally communities I would love to visit here in Virginia unfortunately I have to know at least 6 different dialects because no one integrates into their host countries anymore.

[@ronin223]

How racist and wrong of you. Report this birch.