hot blocKs

"Little Korea"

OVERLAND PARK, KS

Surrounded by big-box retailers and chain restaurants, the Indian Creek Shopping Center in Overland Park, Kansas, is an unlikely but welcome destination for exploring Korean culture. Lovingly nicknamed “Little Korea,” the strip mall houses primarily Korean-owned and -operated restaurants, shops and other businesses that present their own distinct offerings while collectively celebrating their cultural identity. Whether you pick up a selection of banchan and Korean barbecue meats for a home-cooked meal, snag a snack on a stick or settle in for a big bowl of bulgogi, these four spots in Little Korea – all of which are owned by David Ahn and his family – provide an exciting crash course in Korean cuisine.

–Jenny Vergara

1. Cáfe Vie

A melting pot within Little Korea, this bustling café serves Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai food in equal measure. In the dining room, you can find a family slurping up bowls of pho and across the room, see a couple enjoying plates of beef bulgogi and spicy pork with rice. No matter which cuisine you crave, we suggest ending your meal with one of the six different flavors of mochi ice cream.

10330 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, Kansas, cafevieks.com

2. oriental Super Market

Besides offering a large selection of Korean pantry staples, prepared foods and other products, Oriental Super Market is a social hub for the area’s Korean-American community. On your next shopping trip, grab cuts of beef – sliced and ready for the grill – along with tofu and fermented soybeans from the refrigerated cases. Pick up fresh produce and herbs, bottles of your favorite sauces such as gochujang and specialty snacks. And don’t forget to stop by the deli counter where ready-to-eat banchan (Korean side dishes) abound to really round out your meal.

3. SSong’S Hotdog

The Ahn family opened South Korean franchise Ssong’s Hotdog in Little Korea this spring. The snack shop sells Korean hot dogs – what’s typically referred to as corn dogs in the U.S. – and other incredible eats on sticks. Try the Cheddar sausage hot dog and the potato sausage hot dog, or for something sans hot dog, we recommend the spicy seaweed spring roll stick or the Tornado Fries, which are made by peeling, slicing and frying a whole potato – on a stick, of course.

10308 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, Kansas, ssongshotdogks.com

4. touS leS JourS

A French-style bakery that specializes in Asian-inspired baked goods, Tous les Jours offers irresistible indulgences such as sweet red bean buns, sesame donuts, green tea cakes with fresh cream and whipped cream pan bread (a take on Japanese milk bread). Soboro ppang, also known as Korean streusel bread, is a sweet bun with a streusel-like upper crust and subtle peanut flavor that’s popular in Korea – and a highlight of the menu here. Don’t have a sweet tooth? The kimchi croquettes play for the savory side.

David Ahn’s Favorite Korean Restaurants

Choga Korean restaurant. “It is convenient for me because my family’s market is right across the street. It has large family-style tables and booths so we can all sit together and eat. My favorite thing to get is the crispy seafood pancake, haemul pajeon, with green onions, squid, octopus and shrimp.”

Chosun Korean BBQ. “This place is located a little farther south of ‘Little Korea’ on Metcalf Avenue. I tend to order the same thing at all Korean restaurants: My go-to is barbecue. Here, at Chosun, that’s the specialty.”