Bars and clubs in Koreatown have gained notoriety for their stiff drinks and excellent food, and it doesn’t look like that will change any time soon. Depending on what you’re looking for, you might drop by the neighborhood dive for $4 cocktails or hit the classy lounges frequented by Korean businessmen and hipsters who enjoy sophistication. Either way, you can’t go wrong ordering a drink and soaking up the culture of Koreatown’s nightlife.
3331 W. 8th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90005
213.387.7227
What to Expect: Great jukebox, spicy Thai chicken wings, friendly crowd
First things first: you need to know the password to get in. If you don’t know it, you’ll have some trivia to answer. It's usually a phrase from a movie. Last we heard, it was a line out of Back to the Future (Hello, _____, anybody home?) R Bar’s crowd leans toward the hipster/indie culture, but everyone is welcome to enjoy the pirate’s life with a jukebox soundtrack that Johnny Cash and David Bowie would’ve loved. Now featuring karaoke also.
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213.381.3388
What to Expect: Transported club from Seoul with a futuristic vibe
It’s all about lounging at S Bar (not to be confused with R Bar), which caters to the martini crowd. Grab a cocktail, sit back and take in the Korean videos, electronic music and neon lights — all delivered with class. For those who appreciate bottle service, this is the place to be, and karaoke lovers can hop over to the adjacent Palm Tree for a private room where you can sing to your heart’s content.
3357 Wilshire Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90010
213.385.7275
What to Expect: A touch of class to go along with that stiff drink
The dark interior and low-beamed ceilings of the Bounty’s nautical theme creates the perfect atmosphere for laid-back conversation over drinks. Take a seat at the cushy booths for burgers, chops and steaks. But the real bounty here is the drink menu. Order a hot buttered rum and you’ll know what we mean.
3198 W. Seventh St.
Los Angeles, CA 90005
213.389.2007
What to Expect: Horseshoe bar, sophistication and lots of Korean soju
The British décor remains from the former tenant, Windsor Restaurant — evident from the leather booths and English wallpaper. Now that it’s a Korean bar and lounge, the mixture of cultures creates something of a novelty. Korean businessmen frequent the bar, while hipsters from Hollywood come to enjoy the authentic food and try different varieties of Korean alcohol.
518 S. Western Ave.Los Angeles, CA 90020
213.383.2087
What to Expect: The dive of dives, friendly bartenders, inexpensive drinks
"Strong drinks for cheap" ought to be this dive bar’s slogan. Leave your ego at the door and you’ll be surprised how comfortable and diverse the crowd is. You’ll find old-timers and college kids striking up conversation with one another. The common topic: how cheap the drinks are. It’s not Disneyland, but it is a K-Town institution that has catered to regulars who have dropped by for more than 10 years.
3250 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213.389.3424
What to Expect: A far-out pirate theme and possible seasickness (courtesy of the 150-ounce individual “keg”)
If you thought you couldn’t find more pirates in Koreatown, think again. Appropriately, Crazy Hook serves up a motley crew of food items ranging from nachos and vegetable primavera to an assortment of Korean dishes. If you’re not feeling quite so adventurous (the menu is written in Korean), fall back on top-shelf liquors and beer that comes to you in a wooden keg if you order more than 3,000 cubic centimeters (around 100 ounces). If that doesn’t make you a pirate, we don’t know what will.
The Brown Derby Bldg.
3377 Wilshire Blvd. 3rd Fl.
Los Angeles, CA 90189
213.385.1440
What to Expect: A 20-something crowd and casually hip digs
For a bar located in a strip mall, Blink has drawn an unusually trendy crowd (give credit to the good-looking bartenders). Its laid-back lounge atmosphere provides the ideal drinking spot for groups, though be prepared to run up a bill. For those who want to see and be seen, check out Blink on the weekends for people-watching at its best.
