Louisville Solo Trip: Digging for Gold in Kentucky ⛏️

TL;DR: Lunch at La Bodeguita De Mima was a treat 😋, but dinner at Nami Modern Korean Steakhouse was pure pain 💸😤 Flew from New York to Louisville for the weekend. Dropped my bag, grabbed a shared scooter 🛴, and headed straight to the Louisville Water Tower for a quick photo op. Arrived right at opening time for lunch at La Bodeguita De Mima. Solo diners can’t book via OpenTable, but walking in was easy. The staff’s warmth made the 30°C weather feel even hotter—in a good way 🔥! I was recommended the Vaca Frita: shredded beef that’s braised, then fried ’til the outside is slightly crispy 🥩, while staying tender inside. With the music and vibe, I almost wanted to grab a staff member and spin around like a certain Taiwanese host 😂. Downside: it’s pretty salty, so I ended up eating way more rice than planned. Low-carb friends, be warned! In the afternoon, I headed to Mega Cavern for the Mega Zipline adventure. Felt a spooky chill the moment I stepped near the cave ❄️. Highly recommended for fans of Condor Heroes or Ghost Blows Out the Light—or anyone wanting a surreal, slightly magical experience without leaving Kentucky 🧙♂️. One staffer joked that the main attraction isn’t the zipline—it’s the “cave rave.” And honestly, she wasn’t wrong. With trippy lights like Space Mountain meets a ‘90s disco 💃, plus a 2010–2015 Billboard hits playlist, I felt like a city donkey stumbling into a cyberpunk fever dream. I left thinking, “Kentucky really has some great people.” Little did I know—my daytime joy would be paid for at night. Nami entered the scene… and not in a good way 👹💥. Anyone tempted to try this place because of celebrity chef Edward Lee’s reputation—just turn around and walk away. 🚷 The service was awkward, dishes arrived in random order, and plates were dropped on the table with unattractive percussion 🥁. The cold noodles were nearly room temperature 🍜, and the broth was pre-mixed with a heavy dose of vinegar—great for blood sugar, I guess? The $42 Kalbi felt like chewing lightly grilled gum. The only okay dish was the Spicy Tuna Tartare, which, under the circumstances, felt like a small mercy. I’d planned to try 610 Magnolia the next day… but Nami scared me off completely. When I gently mentioned the food wasn’t what I expected, the staff hit me with: “🙄You don’t eat Korean food often, do you?” Glad it was just a casual diss and not a pop quiz on Dae Jang Geum or a karaoke test 🎤🎶. After dinner, I walked along the river and caught the sunset 🌅. And then it hit me—how could I come to Louisville and forget to try the fried chicken? 🍗😭 #SoloTrip #Backpacking #Louisville #FoodDiary #TravelKY #KentuckyEats