Gangnam Sauna is like a poor man's version of Jeju Sauna. It's similar in almost all aspects, just not as nice. Still functional, though. This is a jjimjilbang, a Korean bathhouse which contains showers, hot and cold tubs, various types of saunas, resting rooms, a restaurant, and a beauty salon. It's located on Buford Highway OTP (outside the perimeter) in Norcross, not far from Jimmy Carter Blvd.
The entrance fee is $20 for 24 hours. This compares to $25 for 24 hours at Jeju. The business is open 24/7. You do not have to pay the entrance fee if you just want to eat at the restaurant or go to the salon. Services that cost an additional fee include body scrubs, massages, masks, and hip baths. These cost anywhere from $40 to $150 and can take 30 minutes to 2 hours. The entrance fee is waived for most of these services.
Check out this picture I took of the sauna's pricing for details: https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/gangnam-sauna-norcross?select=G5MKqmTrdC7YUbvQPiJQzA
The restaurant is small. It's almost like a shopping mall or supermarket food court stall. Like one of the stalls at Super H Mart or another Asian grocery store, the restaurant here has a picture menu with 20+ items, all Korean food. Each dish is $12 or less. Items include various soups and stews, noodles (including ramen), bulgogi (shredded marinated beef), ddukbokki (rice cakes), and patbingsu (shaved ice dessert). Beverages include fruit juices, sikhye (sweet rice beverage), and hot and iced coffee. The dishes come with banchan (side dishes). Everyone seemed to enjoy their food even though I noticed the ramen was Shin Ramyun. They prepare instant ramen at some of the noraebangs (karaoke places) too. The restaurant has a TV.
I didn't see hours posted for the restaurant, but the salon is open 7 days a week from 9:30am to 7:30pm. At the salon, they do mani-pedis, waxing, hair, and skincare. I didn't go inside, but some of my friends used their services.
Before admittance, you have to digitally sign a waiver that's written in Korean. I can't read Korean so I could've been signing my life away when I filled mine out. You have to enter your name and phone number. Once you're in the system, you won't have to fill out the waiver on return visits.
After paying the entrance fee, you're handed a numbered locker key, uniform (blue and gray for men, orange and gray for ladies), sealed disposable toothbrush, and sealed disposable razor.
The facility has gender-segregated sections with a co-ed section in between. When you are in the gender-segregated sections, you pretty much walk around naked. If you're uncomfortable with that, you can carry a towel around to cover yourself. However, it's much more comfortable to go into the saunas and tubs naked. The uniforms are really only used for the co-ed areas or if you want to go to the restaurant or salon. No need to bring your own towel. They have plenty for you to use.
As a common courtesy, you should shower before using any of the facilities. If you want to brush your teeth and shave, they have sinks, mirrors, and sit-down stools for that. Shampoo, conditioner, and bar soap are provided at the showers. In the men's area, there is a hot tub, cold dunk, and three saunas: wet, dry, and salt. All three saunas are very hot and will make you sweat profusely. I liked the salt room. It looked like there were huge bricks of salt in there. The locker room has a bunch of loungers and a big screen TV where you can rest and relax.
Body scrubs, massages, masks, and hip baths are done on an appointment basis in each gender-segregated area. Male workers work on males and female workers work on females.
The co-ed section has the following saunas: jade room (women only), red clay room, and ice room. The red clay room was hot, but not as hot as the saunas in the men's only area. What makes the red clay room special are these beds of spherical "rocks" which you lay on. They serve to both massage and drain the toxins out of your body? I'm not sure about the latter. Another name for the red clay room is "quantum energy room." Okay...
At Jeju Sauna, they have brief descriptions on the health benefits of each room. Not here. You just get the name. The ice room was disappointing. It was just a room of beds and it wasn't even that cold. The ambient temperature inside the room was probably only in the 60s. It also looked like this room was partially used for storage.
In the center of the co-ed section is a dark nap area. There are stacks of sleeping mats on either side of the nap area. Grab one and take a nap. It reminds me of kindergarten.
Service is fine. Some of the employees can be rather brusque, while others are friendly. During our Sunday afternoon visit, the clientele was mostly older Korean folk with a few older non-American Caucasians interspersed. It was quiet.
In the end, I give Gangnam Sauna 3 out of 5 Yelp stars: A-OK. It's not as nice or as big as Jeju, but it's not as crowded either. I'd come back. read more