I built my life around paying attention – to people, to craft, to the small operators doing the real work. Over two decades of SteamyKitchen.com, three books, years cooking live on television…all of it taught me the same lesson: the people worth knowing are the ones who bet on themselves. The ones who build something from nothing. The ones who show up every day without a safety net.
This entry begins my running log of those individuals: the risk-takers and the makers who keep Las Vegas interesting. Consider this a field journal from someone who believes small business is the soul of a city…and who loves celebrating the people brave enough to create something of their own.
Finding good Korean food in Vegas isn’t always easy.
There are plenty of places that throw some kimchi on a rice bowl and call it a day—but finding real-deal Korean comfort food? That takes a little luck (or knowing where to look). This spot landed on my radar by accident… and now I can’t stop recommending it.
Credit: Gung Chae Healthy Korean
Gung Chae Korean Healthy Kitchen
Came to Town Square to meet my son for lunch. Our intention was ramen, but the place was replaced by Gung Chae Korean Healthy Kitchen. Instead of wandering around looking for a plan B, we walked in and took the gamble.
Owners Dogwhan Park and Jiun Kim set out in 2007 to share their favorite Korean recipes with an American audience. From the outset, authenticity was core: every dish is made from scratch, and the cooks are Korean moms and grandmas, guardians of tradition.
Credit: Gung Chae Healthy Korean
The founders are committed to hiring staff who truly understand the cuisine and culture, ensuring the flavors remain true to heritage. Long-time server Jordan, part of the team for five years, embodies the sense of continuity and connection.
Credit: Gung Chae Healthy Korean
Their Town Square location has a more casual feel, with a streamlined menu, while the two original Gung Chae restaurants remain focused on sit-down dining and a slower, more classic experience.
This is a legitimately family-run Korean kitchen – no gimmicks, no corporate branding pretending to be “Korean-inspired.” On our visit, Jordan pointed out the two Korean elders were in the back doing the real cooking. You taste it in every bite.
I ordered the Galbitang (갈비탕) Stew: three massive short-rib bones, Fred Flintsone cartoon-level huge, slow-simmered. The broth is clean, light, bone-broth-mineral-rich, and clearly built the right way…with time.
If you’re in Town Square and want something comforting, real, and cooked by people who actually know the cuisine, this is the spot. Exactly the kind of place you keep in your rotation once you know it’s there.
Try them for yourself at 6605 S Las Vegas Blvd b 137, Las Vegas, NV 89119.
Also, be sure to visit their website here, read their stellar reviews, and follow them on social media.
Originally published in the print edition of Vegas Wellness Magazine.
Flip through the December 2025 issue here and check the article out at the Vegas Wellness blog!
