This strip-mall shop’s whole façade is in Korean—with only “Mom’s Taste” in diminutive English above—lending a mystical allure to anyone who loves moms and Korean food (yes and yes). It’s a wonderland of goods in there: root around in the coolers for containers of shoots, sprouts, roots, peppers, meats, fish, and more squid than the Monterey Bay Aquarium. They’re pickled, candied, dried, fermented, fried, and every combination thereof, all in-house. Some are marked in English, but a good portion remains enigmatically unnamed. It’s just as well, since the translated ingredients tend to read as “codonopsis pilosula” (an herb) and “osmund” (a fern). It’s not for the timid, but with just of bit of moxie, your efforts are well rewarded.

The husband and wife who run it, while super friendly, only speak Korean. On occasion, one of their sons is around to translate—grill them on the day’s specials, one time an amazing miso-based snail, tofu, and potato stew. Mom’s also makes its own dumplings, stuffed with either housemade kimchi, or a mixed meat and scallion duo. These cook up beautifully, the insides generous, moist, and flavorful.

On and on it goes: lightly cured flatfish roe sacs, caramel-coated fish jerky, sliced burdock root, sweet potato shoots, and thin rectangles of fish cake. Experiment or indulge—it’s all just $2 to $6. Don’t forget the soju.