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A secret hideout in Koreatown at Hwa Sun Ji (shhhhhh…)
February 19, 2010
LOS ANGELES, USA – There’s always something oxymoronic about revealing a city’s best-kept secrets. On the one hand, the fact that a spot is both awesome and only frequented by those in-the-know warrants its mention. On the other hand, if you mention it, well then… it’s no longer a secret.
Such are the pitfalls of talking up the Koreatown teahouse Hwa Sun Ji. I first stumbled upon this humble shop while researching the neighborhood for an article. I had been pounding the pavement of traffic-clogged Wilshire Blvd. in 90 degree heat when I stepped through its cooling and tranquil doors. No matter what mayhem is transpiring in the city outside, Hwa Sun Ji will completely transport you to a realm of soothing serenity. They happen to serve kick-ass teas and Korean desserts, but they might as well be offering up massages and footbaths–it’s that relaxing.
OK, so the fake waterfall might be a little cheesy, but in the context of warm woods, bamboo screens, and the collection of healthy green plants, it totally works. Plus, it drowns out any residual traces of Wilshire traffic outside. You can either sit at tables and chairs sectioned off by screens to create little alcoves of privacy, or on brightly colored cushions on the floor. In one corner, there’s even a gazebo-like nook for ultimate nesting.
The crowd is overwhelmingly Korean (hence it’s still a secret from the hipsters who have colonized Koreatown), though I’ve never really seen what I’d call a “crowd” gathered there. The service is more than gracious–every table is equipped with a little buzzer to summon your server, per the fashion in Seoul. Press it, and voila! She appears.
A cup of tea will set you back about $5-$7, which may seem steep until you’ve let the leaves properly steep. This is no Starbucks-bagged tea: we’re talking fresh herbal and floral concoctions. Ginger tea proves spicy and potent (they warn you in advance), while the rose and citrus teas are delicate and fragrant. There are also teas recommended to quell specific ailments as well as the Lover’s Tea, “recommended only for couples or potential couples” (definitely sit in the gazebo-like nook if you’re headed down that road).
They serve not-too-sweet Korean biscuits along with your tea, or you can order an assortment of cookie-like treats such as the chewy dried persimmon rolls for more snacking mileage. But the pièce de résistance here is the pat bing-soo, a traditional Korean dessert incorporating red bean shaved ice, fruit, and ice cream–an orgy of cold, fruity flavors and textures.
You won’t find people bent over their laptops here. This is a place to authentically unplug and either connect with an actual human being or enjoy solitary contemplation. It’s kind of like that great hiding spot you had as a kid playing “Hide and Go Seek”: you want everyone to know how great it is, but you don’t want it to be found.
Hwa Sun Ji Tea & Coffee
3960 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 100
Los Angeles, CA
(1) 213-382-5302
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