Introduction

In the summer of 2009, a group from my Tae Kwon Do School in Boston and I decided to make a three day trip to New York City and some parts of New Jersey. The leader of of group was the delightful Korean head of of our school. The trip, as a result was a unique Korean themed experience that I will alway treasure. This is a log of some of the places we visited.

Part 1: Wonjo

The Wonjo restaurant in New York City gives one a taste of Korea and many of its delicacies.

Wonjo
23West 32nd Street
New York, NY 10001

Many dinner tables had two built-in ovens to allow the waiters to quickly place marinated meat and for the patrons to savor it by placing it on lettuce and adding dashes of spicy Korean sauces. As part of the Korean tradition, the meal is washed down with cold noodle soup which was a bit sour for me. Having a meal here is an unforgettable experience and is well worth the visit.

Part 2: King Sauna

King Sauna
321 Commercial Ave, Between Central Blvd & Palisades Blvd

It would be hard for me not to exaggerate any of the offerings of King Sauna. To the average man, this spa is an escape from the reality of the daily grind.

Do not be fooled by the unassuming exterior of this spa. King Sauna has several floors offering variety of services. These include saunas of increasing temperature and even a cold sauna. Further the services include massages, a sports bar and a restaurant serving delicious Korean food. Try the curry rice with beef.

The decor is exquisite with chesstables, relaxing lounges, zen rock gardens, mini indoor waterfalls and giant TVs for those who want to watch a (Yankees) game. Geod stones, bamboo and indoor foliage enhance the tranquil experience. The spa also has a video gaming area and offers wifi to its customers

The men’s facility in addition to lockers, has a steam sauna and four hot tubs within it. It also has a sleeping room. For the convenience of its patrons, the spa offers disposable toothpastes, razors and other toiletries to ensure a comfortable nuisance free experience

I was very impressed with how well-maintained the facility were. The shinny wooden floors were spotless and the whole place despite the intricate decor, was almost dust free. Best of all, King Sauna is very affordable for all its offerings and gives group discounts.
It is well worth your while to spend an afternoon at the venue if you are near or close to the area.

Part 3: Hmart

Note: At this time, Hmart was yet to establish itself in the US. This HMart in New Jersey was one of the very first of this unique Korean chain in the US,

Shopping at HMart, the Korean grocery chain is another great experience. While many grocery stores offer a few samples, every nook and corner of the store has an employee( Usually polite) offering samples of Korean delicacies.

These include noodles of several varieties, seaweed with rice, marinated meats, and more. One could fill oneself just by walking the aisles.

Coming from Massachusetts, I found this place a shoppers heaven. Many of the products offered here were a fraction of the cost of similar items in Massachusetts.