Sunday, September 26, 2010

Mapo Kkak Doo Gee

Over the weekend, I woke up with a strong need for Korean food, but wasn't sure which places would be open for breakfast. I had been thinking about visiting Mapo Kkak Doo Gee for a while after reading about it in LA Times and Midtown Lunch Los Angeles. My Google SMS search wasn't very helpful when I requested the phone number, but Koreans are known to eat full meals at the breakfast hour sometimes and my craving for banchan was so pressing, I decided to take my chances and head over. And lucky me! They were open.

Mapo banchan
I was hoping for more banchan as pictured in the $5.99 lunch special, but I was alone and not in the mood for being pushy with the middle-aged Korean women servers. I was given a seaweed salad of sorts, a few different kimchis, simmered-in-soy potato and steamed cabbage with a hot soybean dipping sauce. I enjoyed the flavors, which were not heavy handed or underseasoned, and appreciated that they make a real effort with their banchan; a lot of Korean restaurants seem to have an obligatory, but not enthusiastic, approach in that area.

I ordered kimchi jjigae ($7.75), which held a nice surprise in store: dduk (rice cakes)! You can't tell from my picture, but I promise they were in there and enjoyed with gusto. Also, apologies about the photo; I dug in for a while before realizing I forgot to click away (yes, my anticipation was that great). Mapo's is a pretty good version, though I wish there had been more kimchi in the jjigae.

Mapo kimchi jjigae

Their menu has lots of dishes I'm eager to try (particularly their fish offerings) and considering the quality level and reasonable prices, I must say that I am their newest devotee. Another breakfast spot to add to my weekend list!

Mapo Kkak Doo Gee (I'm going by the full name version as noted on their Korean signage)
3611 W 6th St
Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 736-6668

8 comments:

bagnatic said...

ohh, that looks like a good place! i'm often confused where to go when i want some rice cakes...and banchan...and old korean ladies serving me.

Banana Wonder said...

Ahhh I miss Korean food!

weezermonkey said...

Looks like a lovely lunch!

Marie said...

Bagnatic: Koreatown places can really be hit or miss and so many configurations of this dish is good here, but that dish is terrible, etc. But that is the fun, I guess? Mostly I depend on reviews and word/blog of mouth, though. Ha!

Anna: Korean food IS fabulous! :)

Weezermonkey: It was! I got "refills" of some of the banchan, too. Yum (could use some end of the week comfort food right now)!

Rowena said...

Well this must be a sign to remind me that I still have to make that trip into the city for some korean eats. So many things to do, never enough time to do it!

Marie said...

Rowena: Hi there! Hope you make some time soon to get your Korean food fill. :)

imjustatree said...

god i miss korean food so much. there's one restaurant here that isn't very good at all. luckily there's an asian market that sells cheap kimbap, but i'm gonna have to make some kimchi chigae myself soon

Marie said...

Sawyer: Sorry to hear about your limited Korean food options, but at least the kimbap is there as a safety net!