The 73-Year-Old Korean Grandpa’s “Stubborn” Fried Dream 🍗

This tiny shop is run by a one-man army: a 73-year-old Korean grandpa who’s the chef, server, cashier, and owner. The name “Gol Tong” means “stubborn” in Korean—a nickname he got back when he was a filmmaker. He came to LA in the 90s, made a fortune running a karaoke bar, returned to Korea proudly, and directed three movies… all box-office flops 🎬💥. After burning all his money, he realized: “I knew nothing about filmmaking.” 😅 Depressed and even losing his appetite for fried chicken, he began inventing his own recipe—fruit fried chicken. In 2017, he returned to LA and sold it from a basement. Now he has his own shop (above ground!), still flying solo. Only 3 flavors: original, spicy, and fruit. The rest of the menu? Just made-up names like “Director’s Chicken” (aka combo platter). We got the original + fruit combo. The fruit was… a lot 🥭🍒🍓—mango, raspberry, cherry, strawberry, even avocado (a bit brown though 😬). Felt like he bought whatever was on sale at the market that day—kinda like my mom’s “whatever’s-left-in-the-fridge fried rice” 🍚😂. Three sauces: spicy soy, mango, and plum sweet chili. The chicken itself was crispy outside, juicy inside. The random sweet-and-sour fruit actually worked well against the richness! A line was already forming outside—walls covered with posters of his old erotic horror films (yes, really 👻🎥). Not sure why he made them, but the actress was pretty. After we finished, grandpa walked us to the door. That’s when I noticed his glove was torn, thumb sticking out 🧤💔… But hey, hot oil kills everything, right? 📍Gol Tong Chicken (Check Google for latest location!) Go for: The story, the stubborn grandpa, and the weirdly satisfying fruit chicken. #Los Angeles #KoreanFriedChicken #GolTong #LAEats #HiddenGems