Track #3: Cheongdam Food Hall @Spring Valley Ranch
In late December last year, the Asian Cheongdam Food Hall (“cheongdam” is Korean for “clear pond”) opened under the radar in a standalone building in the Spring Valley Ranch neighborhood on Spring Mountain Rd near Durango Dr. The owners chose this location for its diversity and because it’s situated a few miles away from restaurant-saturated Chinatown.
Cheongdam is open daily from 9:00am to 11:00pm and currently features six food concepts. When I dropped in last Saturday, the place was packed. I was immediately attracted to Teddy Butter House, with its all-day breakfast items and coffee options. I ordered a fine spinach and feta cheese omelette, served with salad and potato skins, and washed it down with a dreamy lavender cream latte. Next, I walked over to Hoho Crunch and took home a few of their (subtly deep-fried) Korean twisted donuts.
This is not your typical foodie food hall. Families were eating together all around me, and the price point was noticeably affordable. Try Curry-Ya (Japanese curry dishes), Tacos By Carmen and Jose 1982, Hal Ga Tteok (Korean street food items), and Smile Shota. The latter is a separate restaurant—adorned throughout with smiley face motifs—offering “all you can sushi” as well as a la carte choices, including five different sushi burritos like the “Batman Burrito” and “Hulk Burrito” (the eatery’s sense of humor is appreciated).
