Hodduk at Koo’s Grill – LA
One thing sorely missing in New York is a hodduk (also spelled hotteok) cart. In Seoul, hodduk carts are everywhere (there’s even a truck), but in NYC, nada. Sure you can make it at home, but it’s not the same as grabbing one as you’re walking around. Or in the case of Los Angeles, driving around.
There’s only one hodduk cart in LA, but one is better than nothing, and it’s in the parking lot behind California Market on Beverly Boulevard. Called Koo’s Grill or sometimes referred to as Koo’s Sweet Rice Pancake Ho-tteok Cart, the cart dispenses hot, freshly griddled sweet rice flour pancakes filled with molten brown sugar, peanuts, and cinnamon. For people who’ve had hodduk in Seoul, these are a bit different. They’re not dry like the baked kind or extremely greasy like the fried kind, but somewhere in the middle with a chewier texture because of the rice flour. The amount of filling also falls somewhere in the middle (more would be better), but it’s still mighty tasty, especially the golden exterior made crisp from grill. In fact, when we went (Day 5), we had to order another hodduk after David complained I was eating too much of the one we ordered to share. Be sure to order one for yourself. No need to share/fight, one is only a dollar.
Koo’s Grill
California Market (in the parking lot)
4317 Beverly Blvd (b/n N Kingsley Dr & N Ardmore Ave; map)
Los Angeles, California 90004
You’d be surprised! Grace Street in Koreantown 17 W 32nd St sells hoddok, but will only return in May…so be patient. 🙂
https://www.facebook.com/byGraceStreet#!/byGraceStreet?sk=wall
@kim – Not a cart, but I’ll take that! Can’t wait!
Cool, also a dollar I hope @Grace Street?
@Someguy – I highly doubt it, but you pay for a plate and seating.