It is often difficult to pick where to eat when there are so many choices in Koreatown. Although this is not a comprehensive list, this 4 Best Happy-Hour Places in Los Angeles’ Koreatown presents a variety (in food style, ambiance, clientele) of options to fit what you are looking for. Here are some of the best places in Koreatown to drink, eat and socialize on a budget.
1. EMC Seafood & Raw Bar
EMC Seafood & Raw Bar is one of the hottest, happy-hour locations in Koreatown. EMC is a lively, upscale seafood restaurant with a classy, modern interior design that is conducive to social gatherings. It is popular for its fresh seafood. The menu ranges from live uni to tasty lobster rolls.
Dinner can get a bit pricey, which is why happy hour is such a fantastic value! Oysters, at $1.25 each, draw in the crowd. EMC is also equipped with a full bar. Don’t miss the special deal of draft beer and wine for $5 during regular happy hour from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and late-night happy hour after 10 p.m.
EMC Seafood & Raw Bar hits all the right notes for an enjoyable afternoon and is definitely worth a visit.
3500 W. 6th St. #101, Los Angeles
(213) 351-9988
Happy hour 4-7p.m. and after 10p.m.
2. Heu
Located on the second floor of the Wilshire Gramercy Plaza, Heu is another happy-hour hot-spot in Koreatown. Heu offers amazing deals every day from 5 to 9 p.m., when almost all the food and drinks are half off.
Heu has large, open seating arrangements (both indoor and outdoor) – perfect for a fun, laid-back night. Heu features a variety of drink options (sake, soju, makguli – you name it). And out of all the soju, you must try the flavored soju (choices include watermelon, apple and pineapple) that comes inside the respective fruit. Additionally, it is hard to resist a late-night bite to go along with your order. So pair your soju with creamy corn cheese, yummy kimchi-fried-rice and the sumptuous popcorn chicken with honey.
3959 Wilshire Blvd #B211, Los Angeles
(213) 386-8001
Happy hour 5-9 p.m.
3. EscaLA
Located on the corner of 6th and Kenmore, EscaLA is an up-and-coming Colombian gastropub. The overall ambiance is trendy and relaxed due to the large open windows, wooden interior and creative art on the wall. EscaLA is the brainchild of the executive chef Chris Oh and artist, music producer and entrepreneur, O.G. Chino.
The menu offers rich, authentic and regional Latin American fusion dishes to please your palate. Recommendations include the bandeja platters (a delicious mix of meat choices) and crispy yucca fries. The cocktail options are heavily Latin-inspired. If you are looking for something fusion, then try La Corona, a soju-based cocktail.
Visit EscaLA for its innovative Latin American cuisine, great atmosphere and reasonable prices for a winning, happy-hour combination.
3451 W. 6th St., Los Angeles
(213) 387-1113
Happy hour 4-7 p.m. and 11 p.m.-1 a.m.
4. Dwit Gol Mok (DGM)
Dwit Gol Mok, DGM in short, is one of the best under-the-radar, hold in the wall restaurants in Koreatown.
DGM gives off uniquely Korean dive-bar vibe. This is because of the casual, dingy atmosphere where smoking is allowed, combined with wooden tables that are close together. The walls are also covered with Sharpie-scrawled graffiti. Heads up: Unlike EMC, Heu and EscaLA, DGM’s menu and ordering are almost entirely in Korean.
Happy hour offers great deals on both food and beverages. DGM offers a wide array of soju options with flavors like pomegranate juice and yogurt. Pair your drink with sizzling port ribs or savory seafood pancake. Also, if you have not tried the famous chimaek (chicken + beer combination), then this DGM is the classic place to do it.
Additional recommendations include Beer Belly, Lock & Key, Backhouse Restaurant, Arang and Touhmi. With that said, gunbae (cheers), everyone!
3275 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles
(213) 282-8432
Happy hour 6-8 p.m.
By Hajin Lily Yi
