The picture above shows the spot where we first met in person for our first date in Sawtelle—a vibrant area known for its amazing food, particularly Japanese cuisine. At the time, Aries lived just a short distance away. The restaurant where we had our first date no longer exists, but it was located where Hermanito now stands.

Sawtelle is the perfect place to spend dinnertime, with two dense blocks full of culinary gems. Some must-try spots include Tsujita (famous for its ramen), Yakitoriya (authentic yakitori), Kaz (handmade soba), Marugame (fresh udon), BBQ Chicken (crispy fried chicken), Mille (delicious crepes), Plan Check (solid burgers), and Furaibo (classic Japanese bar food). Over the years, even more incredible options have been added. While you're there, don’t miss the karaoke bar or a visit to Nijiya Market, a Japanese grocery store perfect for unique finds.

And definitely check out Volcano Tea House—Aries has a bit of history with this spot!

After dinner on our first date, we went to a nearby bar. We ended up staying there for almost the entire duration of The Gladiator, which was playing silently on the background screens. Funny enough, Aries didn’t remember which movie it was.

Our second date spot, for those who want something more upscale. Pricey, Michelin thing if you're into that.

Our first home is in Highland Park, nestled perfectly between the two vibrant destination streets, Figueroa and York. As one of the oldest neighborhoods in Los Angeles, it’s rich with character and history while constantly evolving with trendy, ‘hip’ establishments for us to explore.

Fondry, a croissant specialty shop, is a recent addition to the area and draws lines down the block thanks to their perfectly crafted pastries. Belle’s Bagels offers incredible bagels in the morning and transforms into a deli/bar at night. For coffee, you’ll often find us at Civil Coffee on Figueroa or Kumquat on York.

When it comes to food, Highland Park has no shortage of options. Joy serves up easy, comforting Chinese dishes perfect for a cozy night in, while Sticky Rice offers delicious Thai food with the added bonus of pool tables and a disco vibe inside. Triple Beam, our go-to pizza spot, is the brainchild of Nancy Silverton of Mozza fame. And just down the street, Villas Tacos—a Michelin Bib Gourmand taco spot—serves up some of the best tacos in LA, with humble beginnings as a backyard operation during the lockdown. Ask us if you need any other recommendations around. Really, there are too many.

This is our favorite park to go have a picnic. Inwoo's favorite thing to do at Disney is not the rides, but looking at how well manicured the trees are. This park has very choice ones.

We take Abby to this park almost every day :) There is a designated fenced dog park area, but we usually hang out on the field where there are many well behaved dogs and dog owners.

One of our favorite Chinese food places. Good for bigger groups, so you can order a variety of dishes. We come here every time family is in town. One time we went two days in a week because Aries family enjoyed it that much.

Kobawoo was just one street away from our first apartment together in Koreatown, and it quickly became our favorite nearby spot. Known for its bossam and pancakes, Kobawoo also serves incredible soups—all perfect "drinking food" that pairs wonderfully with soju.

Our Koreatown neighborhood was packed with amazing places to eat, like OB Bear for Korean fried chicken and Moodaepo for all-you-can-eat KBBQ. Honestly, there are far too many spots in Koreatown that we could recommend, but these were both literally close to us and dear to our hearts. Ask us if you need any other recommendations around. Really, there are too many.

One of our favorite date activities is going to a comedy club like The Comedy Store. There is also The Largo, Laugh Factory, and various improv comedy troops you can check out.

The one in Pasadena was the one we frequented. Aries favors places that has better quality tea. The neighborhood this one was in, Old Pasadena, is a great place to walk around and shop. The Arcadia location is located inside a fancy mall with a wide variety of eateries and activities.

Our favorite beach to go with our family is the Newport Beach. Abby has enjoyed her time there many a time.

LA is known to have a lot of great trails to do! Super easy hike (~45 minutes) with a cute little waterfall at the end. We don't hike much, but we had a great memorable date here nonetheless during the height of the lockdown.