Sloan Mitchell - Traveling to culturally significant locations: NYC Trip (Koreatown) (6 Points)

 

NYC Trip: A Peek inside Koreatown

    I wanted to start this reflection with a brief history of Koreatown in NYC.  The area emerged in Midtown Manhattan, specifically along 32nd Street, in the late 1970s, attracting Korean immigrants who worked in the nearby garment district.  Over time, they established restaurants and businesses that transformed the neighborhood into a vibrant commercial hub known for its late-night dining and entertainment.

    My mom and I went to NYC to visit my older sister, who is actually a Spelman graduate (class of 2013).  We explored the city together and discovered new food spots in Koreatown, which was conveniently located right next door to the hotel where we stayed.  One of the first spots we visited was Koreatown’s holiday market, where my Mom and I took a photo booth picture and purchased press-on nails from a local vendor.

    On our last day, we visited a restaurant called Oncheon, which served a variety of traditional Korean bento boxes and hotpots.  I ended up getting the steak bento box, which is pictured above.  It included kimchi, steak, a poached egg, onion, ginger, lychee, seaweed, rice, and shishito peppers.  It was most definitely the best thing I ate during our trip.  

    In my humble opinion, everyone should experience Koreatown at least once in their life.  Its vibrant culture, foods, and kind-hearted people truly made the trip.