Southern California’s numerous ethnic enclaves offer cultural immersion so complete, you’ll feel as if you’ve fled the country. Part 2 of a 4-part series.

Korea Town Offers a Seoul-ful Experience for LA Singles

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer size of Koreatown, a highly dense 20-block-by-20-block area between Hancock Park and downtown that is home to the largest Korean population outside of Asia. Korean businesses began taking root in this district in the wake of the 1965 Watts Riots, when Korean immigration revitalized an area that had fallen into disrepair. Today, the neighborhood seems defined by the totems of fashion, technology and commerce: sleek high-rises tattooed in neon, gleaming malls and exclusive late-night clubs filled with well-heeled hipsters.

But if you look more closely, you’ll find another Koreatown, one of quiet retreat, serenity and a little more “Seoul.” Tea ceremonies offer an ancient path to relaxation and harmony. Duck into a teahouse, find a nook behind a bamboo screen and you’ll be transported far from the frenetic traffic. The numerous Korean bathhouses in the area are also popular destinations for rejuvenation. Soak in steaming mineral water, then enjoy an invigorating seaweed scrub or massage.

After nourishing your spirit, you’ll probably be ready to nourish your body. Korean markets are packed with fresh seafood, beef (a staple of the Korean diet), and kimchi (spicy pickled vegetables) in umpteen varieties. Noodle and tofu houses dominate the street scene, but you haven’t fully experienced Koreatown until you’ve cooked your own dinner at one of the many Korean barbecue houses filled with the smoky scent of short ribs. Just remember to save room for dessert — dessert cafés are popular hangout spots for both sweets and socializing.

Koreatown residents take their favorite pastimes — golf and karaoke — seriously. Tee up at one of the neighborhood’s many driving and putting ranges, some wedged between high-rises. Or reserve your own private “music studio” at a karaoke parlor to unleash your inner pop star in the company of friends. Learn more about the cultural significance of these pursuits at the Korean American Museum, where exhibitions illuminate the fortitude and ingenuity of the people who developed this dynamic neighborhood.

Copyright © 2010 Rachel Levin, Felipe Dupouy, Singular Communications, LLC.