Much of the world knows the legendary boy band BTS— it’s hard to miss them with their 25 million monthly listeners on Spotify. But they are on hiatus, along with members of the band EXO, so they could complete their mandatory military service in South Korea.
This summer, Netflix released megahit “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” which was so popular that it moved from the small to big screen with theatrical singalongs. Meanwhile, global girl group Katseye’s “Gnarly” dance went viral on TikTok. It’s no wonder there are so many new K-Pop fans.
Most people hear K-Pop fans and think of the bloodhungry, chart-obsessed teenaged girls that are unwaveringly loyal to their bands. But the reach is way bigger than that. It’s moms dancing to Moon Byul in their dance fitness classes and grandparents bopping their heads to Rosé’s “APT.” on the radio.
That K-pop world isn’t just in your phone; it’s an IRL community with a strong base right here in Orange County. Inside Fullerton would like to help prospective fans dive into this world through an itinerary that includes all your K-Pop needs.
11 a.m.: The Classic Cafe, 419 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton
Located off Commonwealth and Richman Avenue, what many would pass off as just an old house is a whimsical escape from the outside world. When you enter through the outside gate, youare greeted with a mystic garden full of great photo opportunities.
Inside, you can see the influence from owner Tony Choo’s time of selling antiques in South Korea through the homey, vintage furniture and nostalgic wall art.
Most of their food is Korean inspired. A crowd favorite is the “Cupbap” which includes rice, cabbage, glass noodles and your choice of protein. If a rice bowl isn’t your cup of tea, they also offer paninis and ramen.
If you’re feeling thirsty, they offer everything from Korean yuja tea to their signature “Minion’s Latte,” which includes a double-shot of espresso with banana crumbles and syrup.
12:30 p.m.: Seoul Stop: 6988 Beach Blvd Unit B-215, Buena Park
Next, take an 11-minute car ride to Buena Park’s Koreatown and visit The Source, where you’ll find one of the most unique Korean-style convenience stores, Seoul Stop. With tiled walls, directory wall art and colorful benches, Seoul Stop is designed to look like you stepped foot into an authentic Seoul subway station.
With many idol-brand collaborations scattered around the store, fans can spot the likes of IU and BTS group members Jung Kook and V promoting TikTok popular Korean skincare and beauty products.
If all the shopping makes you hungry, you can stop by their popular DIY ramen bar, which has an entire wall dedicated to dozens of different instant ramen flavors that go great with their offered canned kimchi.
2 p.m.: Jaws TPK: 6924 Beach Blvd., Ste K-335, Buena Park, 3rd Floor, Food Grub
Specializing in topokki and gimbap, this eatery offers large portions of authentic, popular street food dishes that will satisfy your cravings for Korean cuisine and music, with K-pop constantly playing in the background.
Their menu has many variations of topokki—a spicy, chewy rice cake dish–such as regular, cheese, rose and jajang, a Korean black bean sauce.
JAWS TPK also offers plenty of toppings you can load up your plate with such as ramen noodles, fish cakes and quail eggs.
When it comes to their gimbap— a dish made of cooked rice and fillings rolled in dried seaweed— there are a variety of proteins and styles you can pick such as tuna, pork and bulgogi, a Korean marinated beef.
3 p.m.: K-Pop Music Town: 6960 Beach Blvd., Ste J-109, Buena Park
No trip is complete without somewhere to find your favorite tunes, so look no further than the first floor of The Source for K-Pop Music Town.
The front of the store is covered with posters of idols, and the inside is no different.
Every group is neatly labeled, so you will have no problem finding your favorite music.
With an array of lights sticks, albums and merchandise, this is a true K-Pop fan paradise.
They often hold “buy one get one half off” promotions on albums, a good way to save on the cost of being an enthusiast.
One fan, Annabelle Castillo from San Diego, says she has spent thousands of dollars on her love of K-Pop.
“Yesterday I spent about $140 on a couple of albums,” Castillo says. “I spent a lot of money. I don’t know how much at this point. Just say like three or five paychecks.”
While there are many simple ways to support an artist— like streaming their music— collecting albums and photocards comes with the territory.
5 p.m.: Lotteria: 150 W Orangethorpe Ave, Fullerton
With the first U.S. location opening right on Fullerton’s front doorstep, you must be prepared for a worthwhile wait to try this iconic Japanese Korean eatery.
If you go late enough—say 8 p.m. and after—you can get away with a 30-minute wait outside if you want to dine in. But if to-go is your choice, the drive-through moves much quicker.
If you do decide to wait to dine in, it won’t be in silence. The sounds of K-Pop groups like TXT and more can be heard playing from the speakers.
The group TXT is an active sponsor of Lotteria and is featured prominently throughout the store—they even made a surprise visit after their LA concert on Sept. 14, 2025.
Their menu consists of American/Korean fusion dishes such as the bulgogi burger or the bibim burger—consisting of a rice bun, smashed patty and sweet and spicy gochujang sauce. There are also plenty of sides to choose from such as bowls, fries and sweet treats like the cup bingsu— a K-style slushy topped with sweet red beans and fruity toppings.
Taken from the Winter 2025 print issue of Inside Fullerton. Read it here.
