You Down With K-Town?

Spice up your life…or at the very least your Saturday night, with a visit to LA’s Koreatown aka K-town. While most people associate K-town with Korean barbecue and karaoke (both tantalizing treats), K-town is home to a dynamic nightlife and a little Asian fusion could be the perfect remedy for those wary of yet another night of Hollywood swinging.

Whether a first date, blind date or study date, start your night off with tea and Korean ice cream (as the old saying goes, “when in K-town…eat”) at the intimate Café Mak (612 Shatto Place, Los Angeles). Did I mention there was free parking? Holler. Most K-town venues offer free parking, although a notice to all high rollers, some of the fancy schmancy places charge $2.

Walking into Café Mak feels as though you’re waltzing into “The Secret Garden” – or in 2009-speak a really swanky “Gossip Girl” set. Don’t protest, we’ve all got a little bit of Blair Waldorf in us. Every area of the wraparound Café feels like a special spot. So stake out some specialness of your own either outside on one of the several patios under a haze of white Christmas lights or inside at one of the dozens upon dozens of charming seating nooks. Follow the creaky hardwood floor maze to the seating destination of your choice and then pick a chair, any chair…there are leather chairs, upholstered chairs, wooden chairs…there are even demi sofas (what now, HGTV?) With gigantic columns and oversized, ornate mirrors lining the brick walls you feel as though you’re in someone’s really cool old house. Perhaps Professor Plum’s?

The most genius discovery is that every table features a buzzer where with a simple tap waiters come sprinting (I suspect their supersonic reaction time is a result of their stealth hiding spots in back of the demi-sofas). So grab your date or your book (ahem, “UsWeekly” counts) and enjoy a very kickback evening at your Korean home away from home, Café Mak.

Looking to kick up the K-town factor a few (thousand) notches? Go glam at Gaam (3465 W. 6^th Street, Los Angeles). The Gaam parking lot alone could be a scene from "The Fast and the Furious: K-Town”, definitely the director's cut’s edition. Exotic cars and crowds pack the lot…Paul Walker come out come out wherever you are. The hustle and bustle follows you inside Gaam (sadly, Paul Walker does not) where you’re swept up with the sky high ceilings, tables upon tables of boisterous crowds and the gigantic TV screen blaring music videos. Might I suggest sipping on the sangria (imagine an alcohol version of Capri Sun aka heaven) and splurging on the $10 French fries. My Korean is not what it once was (formerly “bad”, currently “VERY bad”) although with a simple tap of your tabletop buzzer (hey, it’s a K-town thing), kindly tell one of the hundreds of waiters that you’d like the “heap of straw French Fries.” Oh yes, the “heap” is critical. Enjoy your night on the K-town at mellow Mak or glam Gaam.

Cafe Mak - 612 Shatto Place - Koreatown

Gaam - 3465 W 6th - Korea Town

Written by: Meredith McKenna - SpeedLA Dating Resident Blogger