Email Tel

The
Blog

Current Weather

Los Angeles
61°
clear sky
humidity: 72%
wind: 8mph NW
H 62 • L 61
74°
Wed
73°
Thu
73°
Fri
69°
Sat
Slurpin' Ramen Bar noodles near The Pearl apartments in Koreatown

March is National Noodle Month:Taste KTown’s Best Bowls

March is National Noodle Month, a celebration of one of the world’s most popular foods. And if you love these delectable dishes as much as we do, there’s no question that Koreatown is a noodle nut’s paradise. Whether you’re roamin’ for ramen, hankering for hand-pulled udon, or you’re a fool for Pho, The Pearl is just a slurp away from some of the best bowls in town, and we’re not just noodling around. Check websites for in-person dining updates, pick up & delivery.

 

 

Kai Ramen Koreatown

3450 W 6th St. #105

Los Angeles, CA 90020

 

Ever since its first appearance as a popular dish some 400 years ago, Japanese ramen has been evolving with influences by Japanese chefs throughout Japan and America. To that point, Kai Ramen’s founder Chef Nishimura trained in Tokyo when he was growing up, and eventually moved to Los Angeles to bring his delicious recipes and methods here for us to enjoy. Kai Ramen prides itself on using in-house ingredients to provide ramen you’ll be craving well after you leave. The broth is always freshly produced and contains no instant packaged soup for a taste that’s always authentic.

 

 

Slurpin’ Ramen Bar

3500 W 8th St.

Los Angeles, CA 90005

 

Situated in the heart of Koreatown, Slurpin’ Ramen was created with the goal to bring authentic Hakata-style, rich, thick and creamy tonkotsu ramen to California. Slurpin’ derives from Japanese culture in showing respect to your ramen chef with a loud “slurp” sound from eating the noodles and broth. Loud slurping may seem different in the US, but in Japan it is considered rude not to slurp. Aside from the savory, unique broth, Slurpin’ Ramen adds homemade ramen noodles with a huge assortment of different toppings to create an unforgettable ramen pairing and slurpin’ experience.

 

 

Ma Dang Gook Soo

869 S Western Ave #1

Los Angeles, CA 90005

 

Ma Dang Gook Soo specializes in gook soo, the signature noodles of Korea. Gook soo are flat and slightly stretchy, about the size of fettuccine, and knife-cut from a thin sheet of rolled dough. The restaurant’s basic gook soo is served in a broth based on dried anchovies, garnished with seaweed, kimchi or bits of meat, and a few chunks of boiled potato. You can eat the gook soo as is, or spike it with the restaurant‘s smokin’ chile-scallion condiment. For a tangy change of pace, try the Kong-guksu, noodles served in a cold soy milk broth which pairs well with a kick of kimchi.

 

 

KTown Pho

974 S Western Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90006

 

Expect to be treated like family by owners KT and Helen, who are excited to share their authentic home style Vietnamese cuisine their customers. Using only the freshest ingredients, every dish strives to achieve that elusive, cuisine-defining balance of sweet, salty, and sour.  Start with the namesake Pho, a classic Vietnamese soup consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat, primarily made with either beef or chicken. Or try the Bun, a healthy plate of vermicelli-like noodles, fresh herbs, vegetables, peanut, traditional Vietnamese dressing, and choice of pork or shrimp.

 

 

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. Order online HERE

 

 

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, Chicken Kalguksu, Kimchi Kalguksu, 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 available.

 

 

MDK

3630 Wilshire Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90010

 

Formerly known as Myung Dong Kyoja, the easier to pronounce MDK has the same carb-laden menu of knife-cut noodles, pork dumplings, and chewy spicy cold noodles called jjolmyeon. The restaurant opened in the US in 2005 in the heart of Los Angeles’ Koreatown. Since its inception, MDK quickly gained a reputation for serving some of the most delicious kalguksu noodle soup and dumplings, made from scratch daily with the freshest and finest ingredients picked up every morning. Outdoor seating is open but everything can be taken to go as well.

 

 

Yuk Dae Jang

3033 W 6th St Ste 104-105

Los Angeles, CA 90020

 

According to the late LA Times critic Jonathan Gold, Yuk Dae Jang is spectacular. The first American outpost of a large Korea-based chain, Yuk Dae Jang specializes in yukgaejang, a spicy beef soup with slippery cellophane noodles. A hearty Korean soup that warms you from your head to your toes, yukgaejang is full of meat and vegetables – fiery red, bold, and spicy.

 

 

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. 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. They also have a delicious selection of hot and cold Chinese noodle dishes.

 

Photo credits:

Photo #1: Slurpin’ Ramen Bar

Photo #2: Kai Ramen

Photo #3: Slurpin’ Ramen Bar

Photo #4: Ma Dang Gook Soo

Photo #5: KTown Pho

Photo #6: Yelp

Photo #7: Hangari Kalguksu

Photo #8: MDK

Photo #9: Yuk Dae Jang

Photo #10: The Dragon Restaurant