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Dive into Asian American culture and cuisine in this Maryland city

Visitors travel to Ellicott City from other parts of Maryland and surrounding states to enjoy the smorgasbord of Korean and other Asian restaurants—a strong selling point for the county. Along Route 40, two intricate signs fashioned like hanok, a traditional Korean house, designate the area as Koreatown, while a section of the Howard County tourism website is dedicated to Korean American-owned businesses. According to Visit Howard County, a 5-mile stretch along the town’s main thoroughfare, Route 40, contains 150 Korean American-owned businesses and 47 restaurants, most of which are Asian-owned. In addition to Korean and Chinese food, visitors will find a number of chef-driven American fusion restaurants, Indian curries, Taiwanese bubble tea, Vietnamese pho, Japanese sushi, matcha desserts, and ramen. Most are mom-and-pop small businesses, with a smattering of regional and national chains, some of which, like Honey Pig, have grown to international prominence with 11 locations in the US and Taiwan.

Sign welcoming you to Koreatown in Ellicott, Maryland.

Bbq chicken in Koreatown in Ellicott, Maryland.

Best Places to Eat and Drink

Best Intro to Korean Food: Shin Chon Korean Restaurant
This low-key strip mall restaurant makes an excellent first stop for Korean food. Choose from barbecue meats, bibimbap (beef, vegetables, and a fried egg atop rice), meat and vegetable dumplings, bulgogi (sliced tender beef), and cold buckwheat noodles.

Best Late Night Spot: Rainpia
Open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, the restaurant has a vibe that attracts regulars who compare it to bars in South Korea. Spicy and slightly sweet Korean chicken wings are popular, as are the rice balls and savory seafood pancakes. Pair your meal with Korean grain-based spirit soju.

Best Sushi: Umi Sushi
Umi delivers fresh rolls and sashimi in the heart of historic Ellicott City, an 18th-century mill town you can explore after your meal. Eat indoors or in the spacious courtyard with live music on weekends.

Best All-Around Bakery: Shilla Bakery

Fluffy bread, angel cake, individually wrapped almond cream puffs, and other pastries are the draw, along with an assortment of cream and mousse cakes. Bingsoo, or shaved ice with condensed milk and fruit toppings, hits the spot on a hot day.

Best Japanese Desserts: Kyo Matcha
Order the swirls of dark lime green soft serve or the layered matcha and uba crepe cakes. Two doors down, head to BenGong’s Tea for the taro, mango, and brown sugar boba, or milky drinks filled with black tapioca pearls.

Where to Stay: Turf Valley Resort

With two 18-hole golf courses, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis and pickleball courts, and a spa,
Turf Valley Resort boasts plenty of amenities for guests. It’s also just minutes from the
restaurants on Route 40 and downtown Ellicott City. Recent upgrades include modern furniture
and hardwood floors in its executive king suites with similar renovations planned in 2025 for the
remainder of the rooms. Also planned for next year is a new interpretive walking trail
highlighting the monarch butterflies found on its property.

Where to Shop

Lotte Plaza Market
Cooks can pick up Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and other Asian spices, sauces, and noodles to make their favorite dishes at home. You’ll also find an assortment of snacks and desserts and a food court with sushi, bibimbap, and other Korean specialties.

Urbanstory
This Route 40 boutique sells apparel, accessories, and jewelry imported from Korea, including oversized and minimalist jackets, sweaters, and dresses.

Lil’ Thingamajigs
A must-stop for anime fans, the store sells figurines, plushies, and Legos. You’ll also find stationary, Korean skincare, and K-pop merchandise.