UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

I’ve lived a cumulative 20.5 years in the United States, mostly in Northern California (elementary school, college) and Southern California (law school), with brief stints in New York City (college) and Northern Virginia (gap year).  As the pages of GMTD would suggest, I consider myself Korean-American, at least culturally, especially where food is concerned.

Since the launch of GMTD in 2010, I’ve visited the States twice on WHO missions, twice on family trips, and once to send my son off to college.

1. 1. Guam (2015): 66th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific (WHO mission)
   2. New York + Philadelphia (2016): 6th Meeting of the UN Interagency Task Force on NCDs (WHO mission)
   3. Los Angeles + Anaheim + Los Vegas (2018): Winter Break Holiday (family trip)
   4. San Francisco Bay Area (2024): International Logic Olympiad + Summer Break Holiday (family trip)
   5. San Francisco Bay Area (2025): University of California transition

“USA” is the 3-letter abbreviation for the United States within the United Nations system.

These commercial eating establishments in USA, as featured on GMTD, are arranged geographically below, then listed alphabetically.  Some might no longer be in operation.

Venues in other countries can be accessed via the COUNTRIES index.

* recommended

** highly recommended

! to be avoided

CALIFORNIA

NORTHERN

Berkeley

1. The Berkeley Boathouse (Double Tree by Hilton) (16.225 Wintermelon & Seafood Soup – Go Bears!)
2. ** Chez Panisse (16.226 Fettucine … Anchoïade – Let’s Celebrate in Style)
3. ** Great China 16.225 Wintermelon & Seafood Soup – Go Bears!
4. Pyeong Chang Tofu (16.227 Original Tofu Soup – This Is Where I Leave You)
5. * Raleigh’s Pub (16.226 Fettucine … Anchoïade – Let’s Celebrate in Style)
6. * Steve’s Korean BBQ (16.226 Fettucine … Anchoïade – Let’s Celebrate in Style)
7. ** Top Dog (15.182 Top)

Cupertino

1. * Amami Sushi (16.224 Seared Baby Lobster (Nigirizushi))
2. Tofu Plus (16.223 Roasted Duck (Half))

Livermore

1. Wok-a-Holic (15.177 Snow Pea Prawns)

Los Altos

1. ** Chef Chu’s (15.180 Classic Beijing Duck) (15.182 Top) (16.221 “Walnut Shrimp” (Candied Pecans with Jumbo Prawns))
2. ** Dittmer’s Gourmet Meats & Wurst-Haus (15.180 Classic Beijing Duck)
3. ** Tacos al Vapor (16.224 Seared Baby Lobster (Nigirizushi))

Menlo Park

1. Mama Coco Cocina Mexicana (15.179 Chicken Tacos Regular)

Palo Alto

1. * Hong Kong Restaurant (16.223 Roasted Duck (Half)) (16.227 Original Tofu Soup – This Is Where I Leave You)
2. ** MJ Sushi (15.176 Prime Rib) (15.178 Albacore Tataki) (16.222 DeliciousHot Dog)
3. Sogong-Dong Tofu House (15.181 Surf (& Turf))

Redwood City

1. Crouching Tiger (15.177 Snow Pea Prawns)
2. * Harry’s Hofbrau (15.176 Prime Rib) (15.178 Albacore Tataki)
3. * Taqueria Apatazingan (15.179 Chicken Tacos Regular)

San Francisco

1. ** Chowders (15.174 White Clam Chowder (in a Sourdough Bread Bowl))
2. Denny’s (15.174 White Clam Chowder (in a Sourdough Bread Bowl))
3. Doggie Diner (Oracle Park) (15.175 Giants Dog) (16.222 DeliciousHot Dog)
4. Harborview Restaurant & Bar (15.173 Sauteed Pea Sprouts with Garlic)
5. * Hon’s Wun-Tun House (15.173 Sauteed Pea Sprouts with Garlic)
6. Magi de Jesus (16.222 DeliciousHot Dog)
7. Mel’s Drive-In (15.174 White Clam Chowder (in a Sourdough Bread Bowl))
8. ** See’s Candies (15.200 Nuts & Chews)
9. * Yank Sing (15.175 Giants Dog)

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

1. Golden Gate Lounge 16.228 Korean Beef Short Rib with Vegetables Wraps)
2. United Polaris Lounge (15.182 Top)

Santa Clara

1. The Cheesecake Factory (15.180 Classic Beijing Duck)

SOUTHERN

Anaheim

1. Medieval Times (9.352 Roasted Chicken)
2. Rollin Sushi Café (9.351 Dragon Roll + Nemo Roll)

Los Angeles

1. * Bryan’s Pit Barbecue (The Original Farmers Market) (9.359 Beef Brisket)
2. Chosun Korean BBQ (9.353 Chosun Galbee)
3. El Cholo [official] (9.350 Fish Tacos)
4. Hanbat Shul-Lung-Tang (9.350 Fish Tacos)
5. Hodori (9.354 Deep-Fried Snapper in Soy Glaze)
6. Panda Express (Pavilions) (9.349 Pea Shoots with Garlic)
7. Roku (9.360 Teppanyaki: Maine Scallops + Nova Scotia Lobster Tail)
8. ! VIP Chinese Cuisien (9.354 Deep-Fried Snapper in Soy Glaze)

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

1. Korean Air Prestige Lounge (9.361 Beef Bulgogi)

INLAND EMPIRE

Barstow

1. ** In-N-Out Burger (9.358 Cheeseburgers)
2. Panda Express (9.358 Cheeseburgers)

NEVADA 

Las Vegas

1. ** Bouchon (The Venetian) (9.357 Purée de Pommes de Terre … with Black Truffles)
2. * E Jo [official] (9.356 Longhorn Steak)
3. ! The Golden Steer Steakhouse [official] (9.356 Longhorn Steak)
4. * Joe’s (The Forum Shops at Caesar’s)  (9.355 Florida Stone Crab Claws)

NEW YORK

New York

1. 765 Food Market (7.034 North Philly Sausage Cheesesteak on a Pretzel Roll)
2. Café de la Paix (United Nations) (7.037 Pretzel)
3. * Chef Yu (7.034 North Philly Sausage Cheesesteak on a Pretzel Roll)
4. ** Delmonico’s (7.036 Classic Lobster Newberg)
5. Han Dynasty (7.038 Hot Pastrami Sandwich)
6. Herb & Kitchen (Hilton Manhattan East) (7.037 Pretzel)
7. ** Katz’s Delicatessen (7.038 Hot Pastrami Sandwich)
8. ** Koronet Pizza (7.033 Forty-Six Fifty)
9. McFadden’s Saloon (7.032 McFadden’s Irish Manhattan)
10. Momofuku Noodle Bar (7.035 W T Fuku?)
11. * Nathan’s (7.033 Forty-Six Fifty)
12. Pazzo Pizza (7.035 W T Fuku?)
13. The Smith (7.033 Forty-Six Fifty)
14. * Tom’s Restaurant (7.033 Forty-Six Fifty)
15. Westside Market (7.033 Forty-Six Fifty)
16. White Castle (7.034 North Philly Sausage Cheesesteak on a Pretzel Roll)

PENNSYLVANIA

Philadelphia

1. Alla Spina (7.034 North Philly Sausage Cheesesteak on a Pretzel Roll)

GUAM

1. Chamoru-Tei (Oceanview Hotel) (6.278 Chicken Kelaguen)
2. Circle K (6.278 Chicken Kelaguen)
3. En (6.282 Tuna Poke)
4. Lotte Hotel Guam (6.281 RD’s Dinner)
5. Outback Steakhouse (6.284 New York Strip Steak)
6. Sea Grill Restaurant (Pacific Plaza) (6.279 Mixed Sea Grill Platter)
7. Seoul Jung (Holiday Resort Hotel) (6.283 The Boss’s Beefy Birthday Bash)
8. Taotao Tasi (6.280 Chamoru Pot Roast)
9. Yakiniku Ichiban (6.283 The Boss’s Beefy Birthday Bash)