10 Unmissable Things to do in Koreatown, Houston

H-town has more than just the space program going for it. They’ve also got a pretty slamming Koreatown.

With three, count em, three H Marts, and all the KBBQ and KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) you can handle, you’ll be K-cultured to the max.

Lingua Asia 10 Unmissable Things to do in Koreatown, Houston

The biggest city in Texas may not have the largest Korean population in the state, but it’s an active community with a ton of organizations.

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What to know

Houston is home to about 14,000 Koreans
It’s the second largest Koreatown in Texas after Dallas
You can find Korean businesses all over Houston but the main district is in Spring Branch
There are many Korean restaurants in Chinatown too

Complete list of Koreatowns in North America

Read on for all the best ways to enjoy Koreatown in Houston.

Where to stay

The Westin Houston, Memorial City

Known for having quiet rooms and friendly service, The Westin Houston, Memorial City is considered one of the best hotels in the city.

945 Gessner Rd, Houston, TX 77024, United States

What to do

Korean festivals

Korean Festival Houston

Organized by KASH since 2009, it’s one of the largest free festivals hosted at Discovery Green in Downtown Houston.

You’ll experience the best of Korean cuisine, music, performing arts, and culture. The festival showcases an incredible mix of international vendors and performers that have been captivating the hearts of Houstonians for over a decade.

1500 McKinney St, Houston, TX

Korean cultural organizations

Korean American Association and Community Center of Houston

The mission of the Korean American Association and Community Center of Houston (KAACCH) is to actively support and enhance the welfare of the Korean American community as well as surrounding neighborhoods.

It promotes and preserves Korean culture and history, offers language and other educational programs, while engaging with and volunteering throughout Houston.

1809 Hollister St, Houston, TX 77080

Houston Korean Nurse Association

Open to all active nurses or nursing students, the Houston Korean Nurse Association provides care to improve the health of Korean Americans and other members of the local community.

They conduct an annual health fair, health education seminar, cancer screening program, and Texas state CHIP program.

9560 Long Point Rd, Houston, TX 77055

The Korean Community Center of Houston

Their goal is to enrich and bring together Korean and neighboring communities through educational, social service, heritage, and cultural programs.

1809 Hollister St, Houston, TX 77080

Korean Senior Citizens Association

Provides support to Korean senior citizens and actively participates in local Houston community initiatives through volunteering and engagement.

1414 Longhorn Dr, Houston, TX 77080

Korean monuments

A brief three-hour drive west will bring you to Denman Estate Park where you can enjoy an authentic Korean pavilion that was hand-built in Gwangju, the sister city of San Antonio.

Parks

Haden Park is right smack dab in the middle of the Koreatown in Spring Branch. You can see tons of squirrels, dogs and tall trees along a nicely maintained path.

1404 Witte Rd, Houston, TX 77080, United States

Learn Korean

Affordable Korean language program sponsored by the Korean government? Yes please.

Houston Korean Education Center has classes that teach language, history, and culture set up by the Korean government in some southern states.

So if you live in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, or Mississippi, you’re in luck!

It’s a great resource if you want to apply for a GKS (Global Korea Scholarship), study abroad in Korea, or score high on the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK).

1990 Post Oak Blvd Suite 750., Houston, TX 77056

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

The MFA holds exhibitions featuring Korean art and artifacts. Check out their website to see when they’re in town.

1001 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77005

Korean Cooking Class

Central Market Cooking School lets you explore the well-rounded flavors of sweet and spicy meats and banchans (sides). You or your small team will learn how to create a salad, an appetizer, a steak, chicken, and a rice bowl topped with vegetables.

Hair Salons

Salon Kāwi is the most consistent stylist in Houston. They handle everything from coloring to perms in a chic and bright environment.

1304 Blalock Rd Suite G, Houston, TX 77055, United States

Korean spa

There are two main Korean spas in and around Houston.

“Healing” is a konglish term for R&R. So when someone puts that word in a name, you know it’s legit.

Gangnam Spa Healing Paradise has tons of rooms including, O2, ice, hot, steam, and salt. They also have a movie theater and Netflix for when you really want to forget about the outside world for a bit.

4055 Hwy 6 N, Houston, TX 77084, United States

Spa World Houston also has the usual assortment of rooms along with some nice traditional Korean art.

929 Westgreen Blvd, Katy, TX 77450, United States

What to eat

Korean BBQ

BORI offers an upscale Korean BBQ experience in a cool modern hanok style building.

1453 Witte Rd, Houston, TX 77080, United States

Insider Tip: Food allergies are urban legends in Korea, so mention anything that you can’t eat to your server and they may or may not do anything about it.

Choong Man Chicken

Fried chicken in the south with Korean spices is a match made in heaven. They bake the chicken here before frying, which makes it so much nicer.

1927 Gessner Rd, Houston, TX 77080, United States

One Shot Pocha

Pojangmacha are basically outdoor drinking tents in Korea that are oh so fun. One shot pocha took that idea and threw in noraebang to sweeten the deal.

9501 Long Point Rd K, Houston, TX 77055, United States