barrio coreano

Eunhye, my friend from la UBA Spanish classes when I first arrived, is back in Buenos Aires for six months and to celebrate we went for lunch in Barrio Coreano. I discovered the Korean area of the city is a mere ten blocks from my house, so I'll be able to pop back easily when I need more supplys of noodles, chocolate covered sunflower seeds, and garlic chives.

Korean Argentines call the neighbourhood, Baek–Ku from the Korean for 109. Koreans arriving in Buenos Aires in the 1960s, without any Spanish, would be told to take the number 109 bus to the area. Ironically, today the 109 doesn't go through the barrio!

In comparison to Barrio Chino, the area is quiet and it's only the Korean language signs that suggest a Korean presence. But on ringing a few bells we found traditional restaurants, and hidden stores secured behind gates and doors. And there we feasted on rice, kimchi and tofu vegetable soup.

Comments

yanqui mike said…
Esplendid! Rice, tofu, kimchi... man, I'm hungry! Not only that but the missus will forgive almost anything for some great kimchi.

Too bad the 109 don' run no mo'.

Wonderful post. Thank you!

Mike
Rachel said…
thanks mike - and for the link!
urban vegan said…
I wish I had visited this 'hood when I was in B.A. Next time.
Rachel said…
yerh there's always too much to fit in for one trip! thanks for visiting earth and starrs
yanqui mike said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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