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Hankook Sauna & Spa
Category: Beauty and Spas Day Spas Day Spas [Edit]
3121 W Olympic BlvdLos Angeles, CA 90006
(213) 388-8899
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 7 am - 11 pm
Sun 7 am - 9 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- By Appointment Only:
- No
About This Business:
You don't need a passport or visa to travel to the most exotic spa in the Toluca Lake / North Hollywood area. When you walk into We Laser Skin & Body… read more »
74 reviews for Hankook Sauna & Spa
74 reviews in English
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Review from Cleo B.
Los Angeles, CA
1/30/2012
I used to go to Olympic Spa but once I found out about this place I've never returned back. I like the mosaic walls, it's spacious, I love the dry rooms/crystal/himalayan salt/mud/ice rooms! Though I wish they would turn off the TV or mute it!
This is my favorite Korean spa! They have the best prices. I had a situation with one of the scrubbers/massagers and the manager apologized and the next time I returned she offered a complimentary body scrub. She even gave my friend a complimentary entry to just lay on the heated floor so that she can keep me company! A+ for doing the right thing!!! -
Review from Vanessa M.
Los Angeles, CA
1/26/2012
This place gave me super soft stripper skin.
I came here as a gift from my girlfriends. (They're too sweet!)
I had never been to a spa, so I had NO idea what to expect.
We arrived and I upgraded my hour massage to the hour massage with mini facial and scrub. Glad I did!
(cost $70, lasted a little over an hour, this fee included the $15 entrance)
So we get into the locker room & it's nakedness EVERYWHERE. (Females only btw) I figured we had to strip down, and so I did. My g/f attempted to go into the Jacuzzi/pool room with her bathing suit on, well they told her she had to take it ALL off. Also, this is the area you wait in before you have your massage/scrub/facial/etc... You must soak in the hot water for a few minutes before you get called in.
They have a steam room, a hot sauna, hot rock type mineral rooms, and a cool ice room. They also have massage chairs, and a hot tiled resting area.
The locker rooms are very clean & the lockers are a good size for all your belogings.
All n all, it was an interesting experience. Being my first time at a spa & having to strip down to nothing was a shocker, but I didn't think about it too much. Instead, I let myself relax.
I'll go back one day... -
Review from Victoria V.
Los Angeles, CA
1/19/2012
My favorite Korean Spa. Yeah, it's not the "fanciest" or "trendiest", but I love it! The prices are super competitive and the service is great. I always just walk in without an appointment, and never have to wait too long before my "service."
I recommend the $70 scrub/massage. HEAVEN! It's about 2 hours of being worked on, scrubbed down, rubbed up, hair washed, and a mini facial. If you're having a really craptastic day/week/month, this is SURE to cheer you up! -
Review from Chelita L.
Los Angeles, CA
11/27/2011
Love the dry and steam room!! Super hot!! Cold pool is fairly large so I like that for some reason ;P
Ice room is absolutely awesome!!
Resting area a little stiff but oh well.. -
Review from David K.
Los Angeles, CA
11/26/2011
Women only, just thought i would put it in here for the other guys looking at this spa.
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Review from Jayne L.
5/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
WOMEN ONLY SAUNA
Guess whos back, back again
JJB Queen's back, tell a friend
Guess who's back, guess who's back,
guess who's back
Guess who's back...
So, the girls and I decided to check out a new spot. I'm so used to the same spot, but I do have to venture out once in a while. So Hankook Sauna & Spa was next on the list.
The three of us did the $50 Milk Scrub + Admission. Note: Admission is $15 if you opt out on the scub. The price you pay comes with a full sized towel, a small towel, a robe, and a key to your locker. It's just like any other JJB.
For those who haven't been to the JJB and don't know what a JJB is, please read all my other JJB reviews and you'll eventually know what kind of experience it is. Here's my JJB link: http://www.yelp.com/li.... I can't stress this enough... but YES, you will get naked. Yes, you must shower before you get in the water tubs.
Milk Scrub was a delightful experience. Everything felt good and not a spot was missed! When I say not a spot was missed, I mean LITERALLY, EVERY part of my body was NOT MISSED. They scrubbed around for at least 2-3 times. After we were done, we all felt sooooo soft. Btw, don't forget to tip these hard working ladies!
However, it's only a solid 3 STARS because of the following:
- TOO much rust on the shower area.
- Broken shampoo/conditioner/body wash dispensers
- Limited shower stalls and bathing areas
- Mineral Mud Room? I didn't see this in there....
- No free toothbrushes
- Not a lot of dry saunas like other spas I've been to
BUT...I really liked the fact that they had these:
- Bath tub with the ginseng and herbal tea stuff in it.
- Parking's a plenty in this plaza!
- They serve food and snacks here, but we didn't eat here.
- Mug wort Steam Sauna, Dry Sauna, Ginseng Jacuzzi, Ice Sauna, Sea Salt Dry Sauna, Crystal Dry Sauna, and Fitness Room.
Honestly, this place isn't that bad. It's not all that, either. I don't think I'd go out of my way to come back here.
Note: BYOT - Bring Your Own Toothbrush. They charge $1 for a damn toothbrush while other JJBs give them out for free. -
Review from S K.
Los Angeles, CA
11/21/2011
I tried many spa in k-town and i give this place 4 stars for the price and their water quality. there are many nice spa with "better looking" environment but can't complain that the fee is cheap and the quality of water was surprisingly good. I always have problem with dry skin during cold weather and it is one of the reasons i go to spa and most places i've been to didnt really help because i come out feeling the same but when i used this spa my skin did not feel dry and i actually felt difference. I guess what they advertise about their water is true haha.
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Review from Iris T.
Los Angeles, CA
8/8/2011
I really wanted to like this place, but I just can't.
I called Saturday night and reserved a scrub, oil massage and cucumber mask package ($70) for Sunday at 8:00 pm with a woman on the phone who sounded like she knew what she was doing.
Here's the boring part:
I arrived Sunday between 4 and 5, ready to tackle the facilities before my appointment, but the young lady behind the counter told me that my reservation needed to be changed to 7:30 because the spa closes at 9:00 on Sundays. I was okay with this, but I reserved my time at 8 because I had my evening planned out after the spa and this time worked the best.
The bathrobe did not fit me, it was the largest one they had, but I still felt awkward.
I didn't know where the water machine was, and when I asked the woman behind the snack counter if I could have a glass of water, she would only sell me a bottle. When I asked her if there was a fountain, it seemed like she was mad at me.
I used the pools (could not find the ginseng one) which were nice, especially the one person pools. I attempted the mineral rooms, and then waited for a blanket to be freed on the heated stone floor so I could take a nap.
About half an hour later, it's difficult to sleep there due to the televisions, I'm snoring on the ground.
I am startled awake by a woman looming over me. She tells me that I need to get in the pools to be ready for the scrub in 20 minutes.
What? It's only 6:30.
I go to the front counter, holding a towel over ill-fitting robe, and try to figure out what happened. They tell me that the person who booked me the night before was new and gave me the wrong time. They also said that 7:30 would be okay.
I go back and sit in a pool. I'm spacing out and don't have my glasses on and the woman comes back, leans over me again, and starts yelling at me that I need to have my scrub before 7. I say fine, and go back to the counter again. The young woman says then that they can't have my appointment later than 7 because the spa will be closing at 9, then brings out the owner, or maybe the manager, and she says that 7:30 is fine, only after I ask for my money back. They give me a free water bottle for my troubles.
At this point I wanted to go somewhere else. I don't need someone who does not want to be doing their job at that moment be working on me. But I go back to the pools, wait for my name to be called, get the scrub at 7:30 by a woman that was not the one one yelling at me (where other women are getting scrubbed at that time, too) and left after showering just before 9. The scrub and massage and mask was nice, but not worth the effort.
And that is my long and somewhat boring review. -
Review from Sara E.
Encino, CA
6/16/2011
I usually go to Olympic, but wanted something that was open a little later so I gave this place a shot. Parking is a little iffy... they want you to pay in the lot and street parking is very unreliable. They advertised having a snack bar but at 9:00 it had closed while the spa is open until 11? I was STARVING and couldn't get anything to eat before I went to sweat my little heart out in the sauna. The other thing I didn't like was the TV in the relaxation room. I don't care what language it is in, I really dont need the TV noise when I am trying to read or sleep. The bathrooms are functional but could use a refresher. I really liked the ice room and the salt sauna as well as the clay. The mugworts steam room was the perfect temperature. I do wish they would get better pillows. Laying my head on a brick of wood just doesn't work for me. lol. Blankets were hard to come by.
Overall, I would come back if I didn't have any other options. Luckily I do. Its no where near as good as Olympic. :) Just sayin... -
Review from Ary Y.
Los Angeles, CA
4/29/2011
I have been to Hankook Sauna & Spa for several times. I have not gotten any scrubs or any massages, but general bathing experience ($15) always makes my skin happy.
There are 4 tall showers including 1 for a wheelchair user and 7 low showers you can use sitting down. You can hop in 5 different kinds of bathtubs including 1 large cold one. The thing I love the most about this place is sauna. I liked their salt sauna and the ice sauna. It is not crazy hot in the salt one but decent enough for me to sweat. I like the ice sauna just because it is unique.
I usually go around 8pm or 9pm during weekdays to avoid the crowd. Shampoo, Conditioner, body soap, hair dryers, Q-tips and body lotion are attached, but you can bring your own.
I give 5 stars. -
Review from Ivy K.
Santa Monica, CA
1/6/2011
Hankook is a lovely little spa in K-town where you can go and strip down with your girlfriends (or solo) and have yourself a solid soak, sauna and scrub.
Cute little wrinkly old naked Korean ladies populate the spa, chatting and laughing and gossiping away.
Highlights:
- The $50 milk scrub was heavenly (and a little weird, as my sweet scrubber poured Vitamin D milk from a jug into a bowl and insisted I splash my face with it). By far one of the best scrubs I've ever had! And as other posters mentioned, no area is off limits. Literally speaking, you very well may have your vagina exfoliated here.
- The tea soak was my and my girlfriend's favorite, although I wish it had been a few degrees hotter.
- COLD ice bath! There were practically icicles hanging from the banister leading into the pool.
Lowlights:
- Kinda small, not as big or as comfortable as Olympic Spa.
- Only 2 working showers? Really?
- Tiny pools, some of which appear to have a 1-person maximum.
Great place for a Korean scrub! I'll probably stick with Olympic but I'm glad that I gave Hankook a try. -
Review from Brianna T.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 9/24/2011
This is really just an update that I've been meaning to do for a few weeks now. I heard back from the manager (owner?) after a few weeks of sending an email to her. She had been out of town, but was concerned about my experience with Moon. It turns out that this wasn't the first time she had done something like this, and had been on a sort of probation. The manager told me that they were "letting her go", but I asked that it not be because of of what happened with me in this economy. She then told me that Moon was already planning on returning to school and was leaving anyway. The next time I came in, she and the staff were waiting for me with three free entrance passes (nice!), and assurances that the salt rooms and spa were open until closing time. I love resolution of issues and happy endings!
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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7/18/2011
I've decided to skip the aggravation of talking to a manager. I'm planning to just avoid interacting… Read more »
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Review from Cheryl T.
Los Angeles, CA
10/26/2010
I got an appointment at the last minute on Friday night, which I was grateful for. I really wanted to try Wi Spa but it was "family night". Not that I'm not family-friendly, I just don't want to be around screaming kids sometimes!
Hankook Spa is a very typical Korean spa, though one of the smaller ones in Ktown. It's slightly cheaper ($15 for spa access and $70 for a scrub/massage/cucumber facial) and because it's older it's not as popular as the newer, bigger spas. You sign in about an hour before your massage and get a thin robe, a couple towels and a little key on one of those telephone cord-like keyrings. The locker room is pretty small; there are two bathrooms and a vanity area with three stations attached.
You should probably know that Korean spas are no-clothing-allowed, at least on the women's side. I don't know why this is. Tradition? Anyway, if you have any sense of modesty, then you get over yourself very quickly. It is not polite to stare, and anyway I never take my glasses in so I can't see a thing anyway. Trust me, it's better that way.
It is also custom to shower before using any of the facilities and definitely before your massage so there are a number of shower stalls along the wall in the wet room. They have shampoo and soap in little dispensers, but you definitely bring your own. Also in this room are two mid-sized jacuzzis, two small jacuzzis, a little cold pool (by the way, the temperature of the water is very cold - i could only go up to my waist for a couple minutes before stepping out - you definitely have to be a pro to walk in and completely submerge yourself, as i saw one older korean lady do!), and one wet and one dry sauna. Along the other wall across from the showers was a bathing area with what looked like a trough of water and little plastic buckets and stools.
From here you can walk through an arch into the massage area. If you have never had a massage at one of these places then are you in for a treat. No, I don't mean that kind of massage and that kind of treat! Six massage tables covered in plastic. There are some trays and what seem to be giant garbage bins filled with water. A Korean lady wearing a black lace underwear and bra (again, I have no idea why this is the case - maybe it's like a bathing suit?) will ask you to lay face down on a towel. Again, not polite to stare at the other patrons getting their treatment.
The scrub is an experience in and of itself. All of these Korean spa websites talk about how it's a traditional treatment, but really it could be a certified torture treatment used in Guantanamo. Every time I get one I think to myself 'why did I do this to myself' and 'how do you say please for the love of god stop in Korean'? The woman basically wears two scouring pads on her hands and scrubs your body as if her life depended on it. It's basically a miracle that you have any epidermis left after she is done with you. In between scrubbing she dumps buckets of water on you to clean off the icky grime. Needless to say, it is not a relaxing experience!
The massage is a little bit better. I don't think any of the workers are certified masseuses or anything, so the massage is always interesting. I don't know what it is about people who do these things, certified or not, when they find out about the tightness in your shoulders from sitting at a computer all day, it becomes their personal mission to clear out that crick in your neck. Good and bad!
Finally, towards the end of the treatment the lady will put some hot towels under your back and shoulder (very relaxing) and a cool cucumber and milk mask (nice contrast with the hot towels) and wash your hair. Best part of the treatment!
Now that you're all nice and relaxed, rinse off, go blow-dry your hair, put on your robe, and read a book on the warm jade floor (you would think that the mural on the ceiling is only appropriate for Caesar's Palace, but oddly enough it works here) or take a nap in the clay or salt rooms. I wish this place was open later or were 24/7 because you will definitely doze off! -
Review from arianne b.
Marina del Rey, CA
10/20/2010
If you are looking for a Korean Scrub, this is definitely a good place to visit. They offer variety of services from body scrub, accupressure, bikini waxing, mani and pedi. You will definitely feel super relaxed and refreshed after coming to this spa.
Not only that, the place have variety of rooms such as crystal, mud, ice, suana rooms, etc. They also have a snack bar and gym equipment you can use.
The place is very clean and the staff are friendly. -
Review from Amy K.
9/18/2010
I've been wanting to go to a jjimjilbang for a longggg time, and I finally did it! I read good things about this place and thought I should give the $70, 90 minute massage and scrub a try. It's just as other people have said, it's a damn good deal for what you get.
So I went in and hung out in the rooms for a little bit, BEWARE the floors can be super hot, I burned my feet in the lounge area, and then in the salt room I think. I did however really enjoy the jade room though, it was super nice to just lounge and chill in a hot room and sweat it all out. Afterwards, I went into the soaking area, where all the naked ladies are, and you just get right in with them too. I was a little confused by the temperatures of the different tubs (except for the icy cold one) but man they keep these tubs SUPER hot, like scalding hot. After a while, they called my number and I went in and the lady started the scrub+massage.
The massage/scrub was good though I wouldn't come back for the massage again, I need a pro-professional. My skin felt smooth afterwards though, and it seemed like it never ended! My favorite part was the cucumber mask (it smells so good) and the washing with milk at the very end. Overall, good deal and I would go to be comfortable and have a pampering day. (I didn't try it out but they had a nail shop, and a food place too. one stop shop!) Anyways I would go back for the scrubs and all the rooms. -
Review from melviney p.
Los Angeles, CA
11/13/2011
Tried this spa bc of affordability and reccomendation but spa is run down and needs updating. Go elsewhere. For $5 more on scrub u can have a better environment at Natura where I normally go.
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Review from Adriana D.
Los Angeles, CA
4/22/2010
I haven't been to any other spas, so I can't compare like many people here, but I can say I love this place and can't find anything wrong with it. My only recommendation is NOT to come if:
You expect to be treated like a princess
You are a baby about a hard massage or scrub
You are uncomfortable with not being Korean
You just overall can't handle new experiences
Seriously, stay home or spend your money at Burke Williams. You're crowding our spa.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Emily M.
Los Angeles, CA
3/19/2010
When I moved to LA three years ago, I made it my personal mission to find the best Korean spa in town. I visited them all (or as many as a non-Korean-speaking white chick could find), and this one is hands-down my favorite.
It's never crowded, $15 (as opposed to Century's $20), and populated mostly by older Korean women. The basic body scrub ($40 including entry fee) is amazing and include a short massage and hair washing. And when the women give you a tap on the ass to signal that it's time to turn over on the table, they do it lovingly, unlike the resentful smacking I've experienced at Olympic.
Don't miss the crystal salt room and the $1 massage chairs... they may look like your standard Brookstone mall models, but that's where the similarity ends. This is some powerful shit. -
Review from Sarah F.
Los Angeles, CA
3/18/2007
This review is mostly about the scariest facial I've ever had, not the spa itself. I loved the spa, and will absolutely go back. The service was so warm, the facilities sparkling and clean, and the clientele was 100% Korean kids, mothers, and grandmothers (except me, of course).
But the facial, oh lord, the facial.
I was feeling angry at my skin. It's been...difficult. I wash, I exfoliate, I use peels. My skin has always been the one thing I can count on. Until recently.
Lately, it has been misbehaving, getting clogged and congested for no reason at all! And I felt like it deserved a harsher approach. Like some REAL tough love. None of this soothing, pampering "European" crap. I had a sneaking suspicion that I had to take my naughty skin to K-town.
After being yelled at for being a few minutes late, and yelled at again for being in the sauna too long, I knew I had come to the right place. Discipline! Perfect!
Actually, my esthetician was a lovely woman. She spoke excellent english (even though they answer the phone in korean, talk to everyone else in korean...not many whities come to this spa, I don't think). We got along famously. Then she said:
"You ever have extractions?"
"Sure, all the time!"
"They hurt TOO much!!"
Hmm....shit.
She took no prisoners. I mean, this is what I was looking for, but...she lanced EACH PORE that was a bit clogged. She literally punctured my skin with a needle and then squeezed as hard as she could. After 30 minutes of intense and alarming abuse, she applied a freezing plaster to my face and left the room for 20 minutes.
She was funny, but I tell ya, she did not make me feel good about myself. She must've said "you have to CLEAN your face" about 10 times. Sigh.
And today I look like I fell in the Briar Patch! Or like I made out with a cactus. Not sexy, and my guess is not so good for my skin either.
I forgive you, complexion. I'm sorry I was so mad. Next time, I'll think before I act, and I'm taking you for some gentle, soooooothing treatment at a fancy euro spa.
But I am SO coming back to Hankook for the Akasui scrub. This is one of the most beautiful Korean spas I've seen yet.
Just keep me away from the pointy needle...Listed in: Like White On Rice
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Review from Tracy C.
Los Angeles, CA
1/24/2007 1 Check-in Here
Korean exfoliation. It is no friggin joke when you see your own dead skin cells being rubbed off in clumps by the equivalent of a brillo pad by some naked Korean lady....(no joke..I'm serious)..but you're naked too lying on a table.
Forget the Westside day spas. They're for sissies. Just get nekkid, suck it up and go to a Korean day spa. $15 is admission which lets you use all the jacuzzis, the pool, dry sauna, showers, steam room, a room with heated stone floors for you to lie down in. About $70 gets your the skin sloughing treatment but the admission is included if you choose a spa package.
The treatment includes:
1. Hardcore skin exfoliation on your front back, and side to side (but you have to "nuke" your skin for about 15 minutes in the jacuzzis so the dead skin will come off easier).
2. A body wash with soap
3. A hair shampooing and conditioning
4. A rub down with body oils
5. Cucumber face mask
6. A rinse off with milk ....yes milk..(it's supposedly good for your skin).
all for $70!! Now top that at another spa in LA....
Then you go take a shower and adios. But do not go back in the jacuzzis with an oily body or face the wrath of a Korean lady. Expect your skin to be so baby soft you'll want to kiss yourself all over.
Remember!! When you enter the spa take a shower first...you will get dirty looks if you just go into the jacuzzi without doing so...well cuz...you're naked and you have germs. =D
The spa also offers facials and and mani/pedis. Next door is a Korean hair salon if you need a trim or something. This spa along with other spas like Century spa and Olympic Spa in Koreatown are no nonsense. Expect to see boobs jobs, people large and small, short and fat alike..yes...all in their birthday suits....congregated!!!Listed in: Operation Pamper
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Review from oiyan p.
Boston, MA
3/25/2009
My new favorite Korean bath house. Came here yesterday. If you don't know, the routine for a Korean bath house is the following:
-Pay $70 for massage and body scrub.
-Strip nekid. Don't worry about being naked. You get used to it in the first couple minutes. Plus, no one cares that you're naked. They're all women too, so it's nothing they've never seen. They're naked too.
-Shower and enjoy the many hot tubs, steam room, and saunas. There's even an ice room. There's supposedly good things that happen to your circulation if you alternate cold with hot.
-One of the black bra/panty clad Korean aunties calls your number for your treatment.
-There are only a few English words they know - "face down," "flip," "side," other side," "go shower."
These ladies give you the greatest scrub down ever. Every nook and cranny on your body is scrubbed down and exfoliated with their shower puff gloves. Honestly, unless you're really sensitive, it doesn't hurt. After the scrubbing is done, they ask you to get up and shower off the dead skin bits. It's really nasty to see rolls of your dead skin all over the table, but then you have to remember that stuff was just on your body. EW.
After your shower, you come back to the table, and the massage begins. The ladies at HK Sauna have figured it out. The tables don't have face cradles for the massage so they make one out of towels. Genius! They really get into your body with the massage with their elbows. I really needed it. Toward the end the lady massaged my belly a lot. It was either aimed at an ab work out or to dislodge nasty toxins in my intestines.
Then comes the cucumber facial and hair treatment. Then the milk bath. Finally, you're all done and smooth as a baby's butt!
My only complaint is that the soap dispensers in the showers were empty. Overall though, I love this place! Afterwards, I was so relaxed I was feeling a little light headed.Listed in: Korean Bath Houses!
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Review from Rockie N.
Los Angeles, CA
2/28/2009
Recession happy alert: Unemployed? Stressed out? Have 15-bucks to spare? Go spend a few hours at Hankook. You won't regret it.
Went here after my wedding weekend to detox. I actually spent the $70 on the massage/scrub/facial/hair wash combo... it was incredible! During these crap times, why pay $100 for 55-minute massages at fancy bourgeois spa? ($15 will get you in the door sans services)
I had never experienced such a public scrub-down. If you are shy (I'm not), this will completely remove all your inhibitions, along with LOTS of dead skin cells! And don't be afraid when they scrub you "where the sun don't shine" - because they will. Your skin will be buttery soft and people WILL notice. :)
The tables are out in the open and the little Korean ladies will take very good care of you. The milk bath is awesome, and while I was laying there with my eyes closed, I could smell fresh cucumber. They grate it right there next to you and its COLD when applied to the face: bye bye swelling!
Due to the language barrier, its a little tough to follow the rules. Here's the breakdown:
1. Change clothes, shower
2. Sauna, Steam, Hot/Cold Tub, repeat
3. They will come get you when ready to scrub/massage you
4. You may be asked to rinse (you'll know when masseuse pumps soap into your hands and points to the shower), be sure to return. I thought I was finished, but it was just to rinse off the excess scrub, milk, etc.
5. After scrub, repeat spa as long as you like!
One setback of this spot is the noise. If you want quiet, this isn't a place for you. Its a community of Korean ladies who meet here often to gossip and tell stories... (I have this imagination that plants stories to foreign language speakers when I can't figure out what they are saying). But if you can put all that aside, its easy to forget where you are. The facility is awesome!
So ... "Unemployment Army of Los Angeles" ... take a time out midweek and give yourself a break from that fruitless job search! Who knows? Maybe you'll get some inspiration here. -
Review from Seung Eun C.
Los Angeles, CA
2/21/2009
Tip of the day: Bring your own flipflops and wear them throughout your stay here. You will thank me later.
Pros:
Not too crowded
$120 for a 10 day pass
large locker room that can get crowded but lockers are still accessible
powerful blowdryers
plentiful parking
Cons:
No slippers
limited sitting shower stalls
limited standing shower stalls
no toiletries provided except soap, shampoo, and conditioner
only 3 blowdryers
small vanity area
push button showers.. you have to keep pushing them, no constant flow
I don't treat myself to the skin exfoliations or massages, so I can't comment on the services, but HS is a great place to relax, wash up, enjoy the steam/dry saunas, and come out feeling great!Comment from Rachael C. of Hankook Sauna & Spa 5/15/2009
Thank you for your review! I just want to let you know,… More » -
Review from s m.
Portland, OR
5/6/2011
First time. They were nice on the phone, after finding I'd never been, enthusiastically urged me to take a tour. Awesome- I hate being unsure about etiquette and boundaries in new spas.
Came in, got a personalized welcome and tour. It's clean! Wet, but clean. The nudity is no big deal. I'm wildly tattooed-- no weird looks (that I noticed.)
Don't come here if you're American & not open to unfamiliar cultures. There were a majority of Korean women doing their thing, and I loved it.
Ginseng hot tub: amazing. Cold water pool is only 3 feet deep, so run in one end, and out the other, then straight into the hot sauna to immediately warm up. The steam sauna smelled interesting. Like ginseng? I felt like a noodle in hot udon. In a good way.
There are so many fun little tubs and experiences, I had 45 minutes before my scrub/massage and didn't even try them all. Now, about that scrub...
Sani would be my spirtual and physical guide for the next hour and a half. I got the scrub and a massage. Just when you think they've scrubbed you and are done, they scrub you again. And again. As I was a newbie, Sani was gracious about my confusion. What? Where? Move that where?
There's hot towels laying on you, your face gets facialed at some point, everything gets massaged, and you are baby-skin insanely smooth at the end.
I tipped Sani in cash, cooled out in the ice room, and drove home, mentally sailing down the street.
Recommend for sure. -
Review from Rachelle R.
5/24/2009
If I lived within an hour of LA, I would spend every Saturday morning here. It's only $15 to soak yourself into oblivion and $70 for a massage/body scrub down!
The facilities are good. I would happily trade the frills (cucumber water, ambient French synth music, aloe vera plants tastefully placed every 15 feet) for the goods (great massage, great services). You definitely get that here. Unless you speak Korean, be prepared to respond to one word commands in English: "up", "shower (squirt of soap into your hand)", "over", "side".
The other posters described the process well. I wish I had read them before I went. I paid, changed, went into the sauna room and before I dipped my toe in the first jacuzzi, a woman pulled me aside and was like "shower! shower!" and gestured to one of the open showerheads. I was like, "oh! sorry!"
I signed up for a scrub and massage for $70. The whole ting took an hour and a half. First, she scrubbed down every crevice with brillo pad hands. It felt GREAT. I loved seeing my dead skin being sloughed away. As for the massage, my masseuse was very attentive to my limits and I always got a "heh?" whenever she started massaging a new body part and continued when she got a satisfied grunt from me.
Afterwards, I rested for a while in the crystal salt room, a small room with a floor filled with crystal salts that are supposed to be good for your skin. After almost falling asleep in there, I went out, changed and met my man in the lobby. I was smiley for the rest of the day. Seriously, I wish I could start off every weekend like this! -
Review from Patty C.
Burbank, CA
3/21/2010
Spent the day here with my sister and a friend...and what a steal! 70 dollars for almost 90 minutres of services! Full on Korean scrub, you can actually feel the dead skin coming off, kinda gross but you feel so clean afterewards. Oil body massage, real cucumber facial mask, shampoo and milk rinse. You feel totally pampered.
I recommend you get there an hour before if you get the services to soften up your skin for the scrub in their hot tubs and saunas. I have tried Olympic sauna and this place is much better, both in prices and the actual facility. It's super clean! -
Review from genie h.
Studio City, CA
2/3/2010
GO FOR THE $70 SCRUB MASSAGE
i've been to beverly hot springs and olympic spa several times, and went here for the first time last week. hankook sauna is better because:
(1) this package is a DEALIO for 1.5 hours of heaven. i kept thinking that with each phase, it would be the last part of the treatment, but instead, there was another surprise...the milk wash, the cucumber mask (more details below), the shampoo, etc.
(2) the MASSAGE part is actually decent. anywhere you go, the korean scrub ("deh") is pretty wonderful. but at other places, the massages bite. korean spa ladies are not professional masseuses; one woman at Olympic Spa even admitted to sucking at massages. my lady, Soung, gave me a great massage and i left feeling totally relaxed.
(3) the CUCUMBER cold facial is so refreshing. i was expecting some cheapo cucumber scented soapy water, but this was real, freshly pureed cucumber, chilled and lathered on my face post-massage. the aroma alone was lovely. just when i thought i couldn't feel clean enough...ahh...
(4) this place has major facilities: workout equipment, different kinds of heated floors, crystal room, salt room, cold room, etc.
the only way a spa could top this place is by having chic/more tasteful decor. i will come back here if i want the massage/scrub combo and continue to go to Olympic for a simple deh, since i prefer their spas and vibe. -
Review from Kenny W.
South Pasadena, CA
9/10/2009
I tried Hankook a few months ago to switch up my Olympic Spa routine.
It wasn't as busy or crowded like Olympic on the weekend I visited.
The Pros:
Decor is sleek & modern.
Ice Room - A room with walls of ice.
Large dry sauna.
Two hot relaxation rooms to help with digestion.
Cons:
The pools only went up to 2 feet.
The wet steam room was too hot that my nipples were burning.
If you like your saunas to be a little more updated, Hankook is the place for you. I like the vibe at Olympic better, but I'll probably visit this place again. -
Review from Susan S.
Los Angeles, CA
5/1/2007
This spa is great. Love the exfoliation package. They work hard on you for about $70. This is one of the most reasonably priced, no bull saunas. They have a great wet sauna and several hot pools. I'm not sure if the hot is hot enough for me, but I'm going back to try it again. The cold pool is one of the best cold pools (b/c it's REALLY cold) I've experienced. If I could change anything it would be that the pools were a little deeper. (I'm tall).
If you don't speak Korean, it can be a little confusing at first. But you just have to look around and figure things out with a little logic. ;) -
Review from Iman E.
Pasadena, CA
8/21/2008
OMG this place is heavenly! Staff is surprisingly nice and helpful. I was the only Non-Korean there, and it being my first time, I guess the look of fear and confusion was all over my face. No worries, people were so accommodating, showing me where to go and what to do.
I did the scrub + massage deal, which was amazing! I spent almost 2 hours with Kathy, scrubbing the hell out of me, massaging, and giving me a mini facial. Dude she even washed my hair!! All for $70!!
My only recommendation is to bring your own products. Shampoo/conditioner and if you have sensitive skin like me facial cleanser. Their shampoo wasn't bad, but the strawberry fragrance reminded me of a raunchy strip club. -
Review from Jen F.
Los Angeles, CA
7/31/2008
So Olympic gets props for popping my K-spa cherry, but Hankook beats it in sheer gorgeousness. The light in there is better, the tile is nicer, and it just feels cleaner (probably because it's newer.) My only complaint is the tv in one of the saunas. The $70 scrub + massage is an excellent deal.
And for all you non-Korean speaking women - how much do you really want to talk to strangers when you're naked? So, there are some communication adventures if you're getting any sort of treatment, but for me, the language barrier is a plus. -
Review from amy m.
San Ramon, CA
2/6/2009
This is only the 2nd korean spa that I've been to but here is what I love about this spa. I didn't have time to get a scrub, so I just enjoyed the general facilities..$15
-Ample locker space, locker room.
-There were 4 hot tubs (2 individual"warm" tubs, 2 Medium "HOT!!!" tubs, and one LARGE ICY COLD pool) The previous spa I went to was just your standard swimming pool codl, so I really loved that this pool was ice cold, so it was a real shock to the system to go between the tubs, which is what you need to get the circulation and your heart rate going.
-the stone rooms (Jade room and Mud/salt room) were clean, hot and beautifully decorated.. also, the ICE room was a nice refreshing break from the dry saunas.
-CONS:
one major one for me...which kept me from rating this a 5.. no cafe/restaurant to order korean food. at best, they had a little section in the spa where they sold top ramen type noodles, pickled eggs etc... no real cooked food.. and I want my Bibambap, while I lounge around in my borrowed PJ's
******
Update: Got an email from the manager of the facility.. turns out that you could order off menu's from local restaurants, and food will be brought into the facility for you.. not the same as in-house kitchen/cafe.. but definitely a good substitution.. Props to Hankook for caring about YELP reviews!Listed in: Korean Spas (bathhouses) - a…
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Review from kristin k.
Los Angeles, CA
12/7/2009
Not bad. I was really excited about the cold room when I read about it. So when I got there and it wasn't working, I was pretty bummed.
Pros: pretty clean, lots of different tubs, massage area is separate from the rest of the spa, nice steam room with the celery smell. HUGE sauna.
Cons: not a lot of showers, not clean enough to warrant walking around barefoot. I know the jade floor has magical powers or something, but when you feel something under your foot and it's not supposed to be there, it's just gross. Plus, the clay room was so hot it burnt the bottom of my feet. Seriously! This is coming from someone who has never found a steam room that was too hot.
They said the cold room would be available "next week." It's women-only as well so it's a little smaller than Wilshire or Natura, but it's still nice. Very reasonable prices as well.
Don't be afraid to park in the back area. It's all good.Listed in: Korean Spa/Bath house List
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Review from Zero C.
Santa Monica, CA
6/7/2010
Don't ever accidentally take someone else's towel, even if the towel owner covered up yours with their bathrobe. You'll be subjected to armed-fire Korean insults followed by sumo-style posturing in the cramped confines of the scalding steam room. Even your ajuna will get in on the action with pantomimed confusion over selecting a towel after your ass-slapping good-time scrub.
Relatively clean, pretty crystal mosaic walls in said scalding steam room (la-dee-dah), why are there hundreds of exposed nail heads in the hot dry sauna, gross no slippers. -
Review from Mary W.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 9/9/2010
You can get a massage and admit to spa for 45.00 dollars.
Charlie is a great accupressure. The sauna is not as hot as it used to be.
You may be ignored a little when you check in but who cares.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/11/2010
Have gone to Olympic Spa 50 times, love the sushi and spa.
I like Hankook for 45.00 you get a massage… Read more »
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Review from Grace L.
Los Angeles, CA
10/26/2007
the spa is great
the facilites are clean and the exfoliation packages are great!
I got the mineral exfoliation + massage package and it was amazing
the mineral oil was warm and really made my skin feel o so soft
but I must say I do like the goddess package at olympic spa the best but if your on a budget you shall be satisfied.Listed in: Born to Shop
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Review from Desdemona B.
Los Angeles, CA
5/11/2010
Times are tough. The economy is meh. We work hard, we get stressed, we get tired. The good news is that there are great options for affordable spa quality relief - without the expensive spa price tag!
I have been to this one several times, and it reminds me of smaller versions I have seen in Asia. I like it.
KOREAN SPAS
*(Check Yelp for facilities for men)
**Usually same day appointments are okay and most stay open late, really late like 10pm. Give yourself an hour before the appointment to lounge around in the facilities. Free entrance to the spa with treatment or around $20 to use the spa only. You may be the only roundeye, and modesty is not optional, but it is all worth it! There are at least 10 Korean Spas, but below are two examples. -
Review from Andree V.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 6/18/2009
I gave myself a birthday treat....after the shower, I relaxed in the jacuzzis and the steam room that smells like celery (I like the smell of celery, LOL) and took the Mineral Massage treatment.
This consists of massages ( they were so good I lost count!), facial treatments, and a scalp treatment. Frankly, I'd take HanKook Sauna over any of the fancy Westside spas at a recession-friendly price.
As always, I feel like buttah afterwards!
I just had to make an update so that I could give the place five stars. If it were possible, I'd give them more!Listed in: My Neighborhood
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/16/2009
My first K-Spa experience was amazing....I had the $80 package (massage, scrub, cucumber mask, and… Read more »
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Review from Hannah K.
Los Angeles, CA
5/11/2008
Shame on me for never trying out a real Korean spa and shame on me for being taken there by an out-of-towner. After slipping out of my clothes and attempting to discretely cover my lady parts with my hands while giggling, I mustered up my courage and walked through the doors to the pools. I was met by the uninterested gazes of older Korean ladies scrubbing away. What a sigh of relief. My initial apprehensions quickly melted away.
First, and I must say this, please please please use soap when washing up before entering any of the pools/saunas. It's not a pleasant image in one's mind, especially in a self-diagnosed germaphobe's.
On to my review, I had an awesome time relaxing and dipping into the hot/cold pools, which, for the cold, you should just jump into instead of gingerly stepping in little by little - I learned the hard way. After a couple of hours doing this, my scrub was finally due. I got the $110 mineral and massage package. It made my skin so smooth and soft. I was ready to go to bed afterwards. The massage was delectable - I still don't know what happened on that table. I was in some weird midway state between dreamland and reality, but I do know that a tiny bit of drool pooled near my mouth. The facial scared me, well, because I'm a first-timer and didn't know I'd be getting one and also because I have sensitive facial skin. My fears were dissolved. I came out glowing and radiant. Definitely worth the price but be sure to put aside a couple of hours.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Joice O.
Los Angeles, CA
3/18/2010
Love this place, will definitely go back again. The Salt room and the ice room is hands down the best.
The only few things that could be improved is maybe a few chairs in the resting area (maybe even some screens for a private corner), the steam sauna to be just a few degrees lower (it's so hot the water drops from the ceiling burn my skin), and slightly dimmer lighting in the heated rooms (save some energy too).
All in all, this place is one of my favorites, and they have the best rates too.
Also, since the site is down, would the owners kindly list your spa services on this yelp page?
