If you love noodles as much as we do, there's no question that Koreatown is a noodle nut's paradise! Whether your're hankering for steaming bowls of soba, hand-pulled udon, knife-cut gook soo, or you're a fool for Pho, The Mansfield is just a slurp away from some of the best Asian noodle joints in the U.S. The restaurants tend to be stranded in neon-lit strip malls or hidden in plain sight, but don't let that stop you. The prices are generally quite reasonable and the food can be great! So get out there and start roamin' for ramen – and we're not just noodlin' around!
Ma Dang Gook Soo 869 S Western Ave #1 Los Angeles, CA 90005
It's easy to drive right past this Korean noodle shop, tucked into the corner of a big Koreatown mall on busy Western Avenue. But stop on by and you'll get to try gook soo, the signature noodles of Korea. Gook soo are flat and slightly stretchy, about the size of fettuccine, knife-cut from a thin sheet of rolled dough. The restaurant's basic gook soo, "Handmade Noodles," is served in a broth based on dried anchovies, garnished with seaweed, kimchi or bits of meat, and a few chunks of boiled potato. For a tangy change of pace, try the Kong-guksu, noodles served in a cold soy milk broth made fresh on premises, which pairs well with a kick of kimchi. Other dishes include soybean handmade noodles, steamed dumplings, and elastic spicy noodles.You can eat the gook soo as is, or spike it with the restaurant‘s smokin' chile-scallion condiment. SWIPE TO PAY ALERT: This restaurant is Cash Only!
Slurpin' Ramen Bar 3500 W 8th St. Los Angeles, CA 90005
The name Slurpin' Ramen pretty much says it all. This hip, affordable Japanese joint serves liquidy ramen bowls in an aray of sizes and guises, with ingredients sourced from local farmers' markets. The signature Slurpin' Ramen is Tonkotsu, a rich pork broth ramen that comes with green onion, garlic, dried seaweed, black garlic oil and choice of meat. Another interesting dish is Tsukemen, which consists of noodles which are eaten after being dipped in a separate bowl of soup or broth. Or try the Chashu bowl, a sybartic dish made of fattier cuts of pork braised over low heat––the low, slow cooking, renders out the fat while tenderizing the meat to melt-in-the mouth perfection. There's also a Veggie Ramen option and a selection of appetizers, most notably the bulgogi egg rolls.
KTown Pho 974 S Western Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90006
Expect to be treated like famlly by owners KT and Helen, who are excited to share their authentic home style Vietnamese cusine their customers. Using only the freshest ingredients, every dish strives to achieve that elusive, cuisine-defining balance of sweet, salty, and sour – even dessert. Start with the namesake Pho, a classic Vietnamese soup consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat, primarily made with either beef or chicken. Don't be shy, try the Bun, a healthy plate of vermicelli-like noodles, lettuce, fresh herbs, cucumber, carrots, bean sprouts, peanut, traditional Vietnamese dressing, and choice of pork or shrimp. Need more noodles? Go for the crispy wok stir-fried egg noodles, adorned with an assortment of vegetables and choice of meat. HUMP DAY ALERT: KTown Pho is closed on Wednesdays!
Odumak 338 S Western Ave, Ste D Los Angeles, CA 90020
Can't decide which noodle you love the most? How about a Korean-Sichuan restaurant owned by an ethnic Korean born in China, who speaks fluent Korean and Mandarin and Korean! Adding to the fusion confusion, Odumak's Chinese culinary roots are hot and spicy Sichuan, about as far away form Korea as you can get. And the Odumak BBQ is actually Korean yuksu bulgogi, thinly sliced beef in a soy-sauce based broth with julienned vegetables and glass noodles. Other standouts are the sweet spicy potato noodles on a rack and the moist, cumin-spiked toothpick lamb. BUZZ KILL: The last time we checked, Odumak did not have its liquor license. BYOB may be possible, but call first.
Hyesung Noodle House 125 N Western Ave #106, Los Angeles, CA 90004
One of the newest additions to the Koreatown noodle scene, Hyesung Noodle House is the first U.S. location of one of Seoul’s oldest noodle shops. The original was founded in 1968 by Min Sook Kim, who spent two months last year overseeing the LA opening. Moving forward, her son, Steven Bai, will be overseeing operations. Hyesung Noodle House specializes in kalguksu, or Korean knife-cut noodle soup, which is served with either an anchovy or chicken-based broth. The menu is very focused, featuring just four items, along with bossam (boiled pork belly), vegetable pancakes, beer, and soju (a traditional Korean distilled beverage).
Hangari Kalguksu 3470 W 6th St. Suite 9 10, Los Angeles, CA 90010
This popular restaurant specializes in Kalguksu, a Korean noodle dish consisting of handmade, knife-cut wheat flour noodles served in a large bowl with broth and other ingredients. The name comes from the fact that the noodles are cut, not extruded or spun. Choices include Spicy Seafood Kalguksu (hand-cut noodles in anchovy broth with clams, shrimp, 1/2 crab, mussels, potato and green onion); Chicken Kalguksu (hand-cut noodles in chicken soup with 1/2 chicken, potato, dried dates, onion and green onion); Kimchi Kalguksu (hand-cut noodles in anchovy broth with kimchi, clams, green onion and bean sprouts); and Yeolmu Bibim Guksu (thin noodles with sweet and spicy sauce, young radish kimchi, cucumber and 1/2 cold boiled egg). Plain and non-spicy versions are offered as well. ALERT: Hangari Kalguksu is take out only.
Myung Dong Kyoja 3630 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Myung Dong Kyoja is an unassuming kitchen dishing up kalguksu noodle soup, dumplings, and other Korean specialties, such as Sanchae Bibimbob (traditional Korean dish with a mixture of rice chili paste, sesame oil, and vegetables – mushrooms, bellflower coat, spinach bracken tern stems, lettuce, carrot, zucchini, bean sprouts, and radish – topped with an over-easy egg); Beef Bulgogi (marinated barbecued beef mixed in with onions); La Galbi (marinated beef short ribs with grilled onions); and Tteokguk (rice cake soup – thinly sliced rice cake with ground chicken and vegetables in chicken broth).
The Dragon Restaurant 966 S Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90006
Located in the heart of Koreatown, The Dragon Restaurant has been a popular place to go for Korean-influenced Northern Chinese cuisine for over 30 years. Established in 1980, this family owned restaurant is a testament to its commitment to high quality ingredients, delicious food, and excellent service. In addition to the main dining room, The Dragon also features 15 private dining rooms and banquet halls. Try the Chachiang Mein (also known as jjajangmyun), a Korean-style Chinese noodle dish topped with a thick sauce made of chunjang, seafood or diced pork, and vegetables.
Photo credits:
Photo #1: Image courtesy of Slurpin' Ramen Bar
Photo #2: Image courtesy of Ma Dang Gook Soo
Photo #3: Image courtesy of Slurpin' Ramen Bar
Photo #4: Image courtesy of KTown Pho
Photo #5: image courtesy of Yelp
Photo #6 – Image courtesy of Hyesung Noodle House
Photo #7 – Image courtesy of Hangari Kalguksu
Photo #8 – Image courtesy of Myung Dong Kyoja
Photo #9 – Image courtesy of The Dragon Restaurant