A Killer Koreatown Rubdown

If you enjoy things that feel good, then drop what you're doing and head to Aroma Spa in Koreatown for their Scrub and Calming Treatment. If you don't enjoy things that feel good, then please...carry on with whatever you were doing.

If you've never been to a Korean spa, be aware that it's not quite the experience many of today's spa-goers are used to. There's no cucumber-infused water or Zen flute tooting quietly in the background. It feels more like what spas might've been back in the day: steam rooms, showers, soaking tubs, and a bunch of naked chicks walking around (there's a men's section too).

It's important to arrive to Aroma 20 to 30 minutes before your scrub so that you can enjoy the tubs and prep the skin. We wandered into a big, tiled room to find women of all shapes and sizes showering, taking dips and chatting. After we spent some time in the hot tub, cold tub and steam room, Lee called our number and escorted us into a "wet room" filled with about 15 women receiving treatments atop vinyl tables.

Again, unlike the spas you may be used to, the treatment area is neither private nor quiet, and you receive your treatment completely naked from a woman wearing only a bra and panties. Honestly, if you are modest, you may have trouble with this experience, but if you can get over it, it is phenomenal.

First, Lee (who is much stronger than she looks) scrubbed our body all over, sloughing off the dead skin and occasionally rinsing us off with bowls of warm water, a sensation we hoped would never end. Then she shampooed the hair and applied a conditioning treatment. While the conditioner soaked in, she massaged us from head to toe, including our face. She applied a collagen mask as she continued with the rubdown and, throughout the entire process, masterfully placed hot towels in all the right places. When our hour and a half was up, we were squeaky clean, relaxed, and our skin was as smooth as a baby's...oh, you know the rest.

Here's the topper: You can soak, steam, slough and shower for as long as you like without giving a second thought to parking fees, as Aroma validates for a full five hours of parking under their building. �

Review originally published 7/31/2008.