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Korean culture doesn’t escape New York City. You’ve heard of Chinatown, but there’s also a vibrant Koreatown located right near the Empire State Building. Doing some Seoul searching? Look no further – here’s your guide to all things Korean in NYC.

Walk around Koreatown

Tucked away in Midtown Manhattan between 5th and 6th Avenues on 32nd Street, K-Town is filled from top to bottom with Korean commerce, from cafés to karaoke bars. Reminiscent of Korean cities, businesses are stacked vertically and accessed by stairs or elevator.

During your visit to Koreatown, stop by Koryo Books for all your K-pop merchandise. Koryo carries Korean books in Hangal, DVDs, stickers, and adorable stationery. Visit the bookstore for your fill of Korean pop culture. Koryo Books is located at 35 W. 32nd St.

For a pick-me-up, satisfy your sweet tooth at a Korean café. We recommend Grace Street at 17 W. 32nd St., a K-Town favorite known for its sweets. Indulge in Korean donuts (hodduk) or an OG Shaved Snow and wash it all down with flavored milk tea.

Interested in Korean cosmetics? Koreatown has plenty of beauty shops. Besfren Beauty at 315 5th Ave. has all of your K-beauty essentials, from honey to foil masks. Fair prices ensure that you can try a bit of everything.

Eat Korean

Korean food is flavorful, colorful, and always packed with texture. For Korean eats in the Upper West Side, we recommend Mokja at 852 Amsterdam Ave., just a five-minute drive from Hotel Beacon. From bibimbap to bulgogi, its inviting atmosphere and quick service makes it a great pick for a casual meal. The kimchi is also notably good.

For an upscale Korean BBQ experience, we recommend Gaonnuri in K-Town. This stylish restaurant is located on the 39th floor of a skyscraper, but it’s not just aesthetics – the food is authentic and the price is worth it.

Looking for something more casual? Jongro BBQ in K-Town has a solid reputation and fine array of meats to grill up right at your table. It gets busy, so expect a wait – put your name on the list and browse the Koryo bookshelves for a bit…

A Night of Noraebang (Korean Karaoke)

Noraebang is the Korean word for karaoke. Unlike US karaoke bars, noraebang is private, with rooms rented out to small parties for singing. It’s no surprise that there’s a ton of noraebang in Koreatown.

32 Karaoke is a good choice with fair prices, located on the sixth floor of a building at 32 W. 32nd St. Bring your own booze and food – the H-Mart next door makes this easy. No hard liquor allowed. Consider booking in advance on the weekends! Open until 4 am.

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Planning a visit to New York City? Explore the city like a local and book with Hotel Beacon. Rooms at our Upper West Side hotel feature kitchenettes and we’re located just blocks from Central Park. Check out our latest special offers.