Poll: Do You Think the 'Koreatown' Stigma Still Exists in Annandale?

It’s no secret that Annandale is home to many restaurants, but some residents have told Patch they think the ratio of restaurants to other businesses is disproportionate.

Many of the restaurants in the area are Korean or Korean-American owned. (Humorously, the availability of bulgogi in Fairfax County came up at the end of ChokeOnFunny‘s “Fairfax Rap” on YouTube.)

In fact, some residents of the D.C. metro area refer to Annandale as “Koreatown,” in part due to Annandale’s relatively dense Korean population (compared to the rest of Fairfax County) and the large number of Korean businesses. The stereotype has divided Annandale residents—something The Washington Post addressed back in 2005.

Some residents whom Annandale Patch has spoken to in the past year see Annandale as a diverse community that has the potential for business expansion far beyond ethnic cuisine. Back in September, an task force (composed of business owners and community members) unveiled its , which aims to promote mixed-use development in the Annandale community.