Toe Bang

Toe Bang Restaurant Review:

Chapman Plaza (aka Chapman Market) at 6th and Kenmore was one of L.A.'s first drive-in shopping centers, a 1929 Spanish Colonial Revival building. Although the neighborhood has changed (it's now the middle of Koreatown), the structure remains an architectural gem. On one side of the courtyard/parking lot, Toe Bang is a twentysomething-and-trendy, hardwood-and-matchstick-blind kind of place, with dim lighting, handsome wallpaper of Korean calligraphy, and poppy Korean dance music on the audio. The fare is solid Korean pub food --- nice barbecues (cooked in the kitchen), sautés and stews, as well as bibimbap (rice with meat, vegetables and hot sauce in a large bowl). Sweet cheese corn makes for a rich side dish, and the kimchi pancake is doughy, salty and a good pairing for the grilled meats. While saké and beer are available, it is worth trying the yogurt soju, which is basically a drink composed with an alcohol, similar to vodka, mixed with a cold, sweet white juice. The outdoor patio is a nice place to snack and chat, and it provides a view of the rest of the Market, including karaoke parlors and other restaurants and cafés. Daily happy hour offers half-off drink specials, and is a good opportunity to sample savory bites like chicken wings or Korean blood sausage.