Los Angeles is a city made up of numerous, vastly different neighborhoods; your day on one side of town can be completely different than a similar day in another area. But that's one of the best parts about the city; each 'hood offers its own unique experience. Some of L.A.'s neighborhoods are more distinctly carved out than others, including the vast Koreatown; three of the most densely-populated square miles in the city. Here are 13 tell-tale signs to let you know you're in the midst of it.
1. The pervasive smell of slow-cooked BBQ meat is everywhere.
2. The streetscape looks like an actual city, with crowded sidewalks and blocks of high-rise buildings.
3. No one seems to go home at 2am; they just relocate to after-hours spots you can never seem to find on your own.
4. Everyone is walking around with a fish full of ice cream (it's called Taiyaki, and you can get it at Somi Somi).
5. You ask for a drink and are served soju.
6. The boba places are open late.
7. There's a day spa on every other block.
8. You see FOR RENT signs on apartments reminiscent of French chateaus.
9. You're looking for a Starbucks or Coffee Bean, but all you can find are Tom and Toms.
10. Your two best bets for beers are a hipster brew pub or a dive bar decorated like a boat.
11. Every shop has a shelf of beauty masks, and they're cheap, and you can never not buy one.
12. You stumble upon the best Oaxacan restaurant outside of Oaxaca.
13. You're never more than a block away from a karaoke spot.
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