Mapo Kkak Doo Gee

Mapo Kkak Doo Gee is a no-frills kind of restaurant, as you can probably tell from the exterior. The menu emphasizes hearty Korean cooking, and there are plenty of seats available for lunch and dinner. The free and refillable banchan served with every meal is one of the pleasures of dining in Koreatown. While it's always wonderful to get something for nothing, these pickled and marinated hors d'oeuvres are rarely as memorable as the main entrée.

Acorn jellies topped with soy sauce and scallions, pickled seaweed, boiled cabbage with gochujang (fermented red chili paste), and pancakes are constantly available. Another must-try is the restaurant's braised fish, which comes in two varieties: mackerel and cod. This dish's preparation keeps the fish's flesh soft while infusing it with the flavor of gochujang. It's a flavor explosion, to say the least! In this delectable preparation, even daikon, a usually yawn-inducing root, comes to life, serve with a side of rice.

Address: 3611 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020

Contact: (213) 736-6668