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    JoongHwaRu

    4.4 (107 reviews)
    Open 10:30 am - 10:00 pm

    Order JoongHwaRu Takeout or Delivery

    JoongHwaRu Photos

    Business Info

    JOONGHWARU ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Steven K.

    Seriously?? I really thought my order was a mistake when I opened it up. I've never seen such dried up small portion for the sweet & sour pork - it was the saddest thing I have ever tasted...and for $20? I had so much hope based on the social media posts of others. The jjampong was so so (no kick), and the jajangmyeon sauce was a bit bland.

    Chadol Jjampong: (Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup with added beef brisket). Delicious!
    Cindy S.

    JoongHwaRu specializes in Korean-Chinese style cuisine. Located in Koreantown on 8th and Catalina St. My friend recommended this place for Jjampong (spicy seafood noodles), so off I went. She knows the best places for Korean food and beyond. Thank you Soomin N! JoongHwaRu are known for: -Spicy Seafood Noodles (Jjampong) -Black Bean Sauce Noodles (Jajangmyeon) -Sweet and Sour Crispy Pork (Tangsuyuk) I came here for their: Spicy Seafood Noodles (Jjampong): a spicy Korean-Chinese noodle soup made with seafood (clams, mussels, clean shrimp, squid), vegetables, and a red pepper (gochugaru) flavored broth. The jjampong here is loaded with seafood and the portion is HUGE! You definitely can also taste the smokiness of the "wok hei" in the spicy savory broth. Most importantly for me was the soup wasn't fishy! Absolutely delicious!! Now, the restaurant is a complete hole-in-the-wall, but the food makes up for the ambiance. Good food, non-pretentious spot. They take cash and card. Friendly staff. Parking sux in this area.

    Sweet and sour pork with the sauce on the side
    Jasmine C.

    I was craving jjajangmyun so came here and glad we did! They have bunch of combos so we got the jjajangmyun & sweet and sour pork with a side of fried dumplings. The portions were generous and so yummy! The Auntie working there was so friendly and even gave water for my pup. Small hole is the wall but what a gem!

    Lily P.

    The jjajjangmyeon here was lacking and could have used more black bean sauce. Jjampong and tangsuyuk I'm indifferent about since I don't eat them much but it wasn't bad for sure

    Joseph H.

    This place hands down one of the best jjamppong especially cause the noodle, so chewy. The soups on the thiccer side. The only con is the place is HOT, so for summer youll be dyin...please fix the AC :) . The server ladies are all kind and usually busy, so gotta be a bit patient. 5 STARS WHEN AC IS FIXED

    Jennie H.

    Service was fast and good. Seating is very limited and not good for big groups. The jjampong is probably the best in LA. Super flavorful and the noodles are chewy. Has a spicy kick and full of seafood and vegetables. The tangsooyuk was good but nothing special. The black bean noodles were okay. I think the star of the show was just the jjampong .

    Julia S.

    Best jajangmyeon in LA?? FOOD I got the seafood jajangmyeon and it was SO good. It had so much toppings and the noodles were nicely chewy without being overcooked. There was also enough sauce for the noodles (one of my pet peeves is not enough sauce on jajangmyeon haha). One serving is enough for 2 (normal) people to split, it's a hefty plate. Jamppong/spicy seafood noodle soup is my partner's favorite chinese-korean food and he deemed it the best he ever had. It wasn't too spicy and so you could easily finish a whole bowl. Tangsuyook had a good meat to breading ratio- it didn't taste like just dry breading. I personally thought the sauce could be sweater, but that's personal preference. The pricing is also extremely fair. A combo of jajangmyeon, jamppong, and pork for $40 and the plates were all heavy. Even two big backs will probably have leftovers. SERVICE One night aunty running the entire front of the store. She was extremely attentive to her customer's needs. AMBIANCE Very casual. At noon on a weekday, almost every table was filled with Korean aunties and uncles. We were the only non-Korean and that's how you know it's legit haha. PARKING Small shared parking lot at the front of the restaurant. Self park, no valet.

    Trinny T.

    I ordered jajangmyeon and fried pork with sweet and sour sauce for pick up. The service was fast and I didn't have to wait long. The parking is small though so when I arrived at 11:30am, the lot was filled up. The portions are huge for a very affordable price. If you get a combo it is even cheaper. I definitely will come back.

    Menu (June 2025) [2/2]
    Donovan C.

    Small Jjajangmyeon/Jjamppong spot in Ktown that's really good when it comes to value. We ordered the Combo #2 (Jjajangmyeon, Jjamppong, and Fried Pork with Sweet & Sour Sauce) so we could try a good variety of the menu. We expected them to skimp on the sizing because it was three dishes, but to our surprise, these were pretty big (maybe even full-sized) portions. The combo was definitely enough to feed two people with leftovers at the end. The Jjajangmyeon and Fried Pork were solid and about on par with other spots in the area. The Jjamppong was hearty and flavorful, but not too spicy. Service was a little slow, but seating was immediate and the space is what you'd expect from small Ktown restaurant. One weird thing, they charge for takeout containers, so they tell you to mention that you want containers BEFORE paying so they can add it to your receipt. We didn't realize/hear this so we forgot to and they were a bit peeved, but then they just ignored the additional charge. Parking can be hit or miss since it's in a small plaza next to a busy street.

    Jjamppong /
    Lucia L.

    If you've BEAN looking for a Korean black bean noodle spot, you definitely have to check out @joonghwaru_la ! They specialize in Korean comfort dishes such as jjajeongmyeon (black bean noodles) and jjambbong (spicy seafood noodles), and I love how every dish is lovingly cooked with a home-style flair that reminds you of your mom's cooking, with not too much salt or MSG. If you're like me and LOVE both of these dishes, they also have insanely affordable combos that include both of these noodles, as well as a side of fried pork, dumplings, fried rice, or fried shrimp for $40 and under. Service was so incredibly sweet, and I highly recommend checking out this hole in the wall if you're in the Ktown area! Featured here: black bean noodle with seafood spicy seafood noodle fried pork with sweet and sour sauce

    First, parking here is absolutely atrocious, with that out of the way; this place is hands down THE BEST jjajangmyeon place I've been to including the ones from Korea. For $10, you get a healthy amount of pork belly in it too, not those miniscule ones either The jjampong didn't miss either, you can taste the "fire/char" in the broth The tangsuyuk was meh, would recommend the orange chicken instead. All in all, would come back 100% as the jjajangmyeon and jjampong is all that matters

    Dan K.

    Amazing food at affordable price. Service was also excellent. The spicy seafood noodles (Jjampong) were probably the best I've had in recent years. TangSuYuk was prepared in traditional style that is a bit different than how it is nowadays, but I still very much enjoyed it. There is a decent sized parking lot in front of the restaurant which was amazing!

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    The Jajangmyeon and Jjamppong are really delicious.^^.......................................................

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    Ask the Community - JoongHwaRu

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    Hangari Kalguksu

    Hangari Kalguksu

    4.4
    (3.3k reviews)
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    I need to update this review. I have been here throughout the years and have seen many changes. It…read morehas been 13 years since my original review and it is due for a big change in review. Hangari Kalguksu is doing really well for themselves! It is good to see. There have been so many changes, but I am not a fan of the changes. What was once meticulously fresh prepared side dishes are now generic looking out of a jar side dishes. They have started to feature more things and have expanded their menu, as well as expanded their shop so that it is much bigger. Still packed! Parking is still valet and a hassle. The waiters and waitresses now speak perfect english, which was nice. Kalguksu is still very good. Overall, it feels more commercial than homely now. As a commercial restaurant, it is good. However, not a place I would travel for anymore. I can get this experience from most local spots. I am keeping this review at a 5 star, because it still is worthy of a 5 star. However, it is a lesser 5 star than 13 years ago.

    I hadn't been here in a while, but I remembered really enjoying it, so I was excited when one of my…read morefriends suggested meeting here for dinner. Parking is always a pain in Ktown, but they offer valet for around $5, which makes things a lot easier. This time we ordered the Pork Belly + Jowl Bossam Combo (Large), and I have to say the jowl was the star of the meal. It was super tender and even better than the pork belly. They give you everything you need to make your own wraps. We also got the Budae Army Kalguksu, and the portion was huge. If you're a fan of army stew, this was fire. It came loaded with Spam, sausage, cheese, and plenty of their knife cut noodles. This place gets pretty busy, so expect a wait during peak hours. Even with a full restaurant, the service was still friendly and attentive. I'd definitely come back for the bossam, and next time I want to try more of their other kalguksu dishes .

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    Ham Ji Park

    Ham Ji Park

    4.2
    (1.8k reviews)
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    I just walked by, all the Ham Ji stuff still inside but construction was underway with the door to…read more6th St. wide open. Plastic sheeting was up to protect the kitchen and other areas, so it's nothing major whatever is happening. Anyone know more info?

    tl;dr the delectable pork ribs overshadow the otherwise authentic but standard lineup at this…read morenow-shuttered Korean stalwart Los Angeles Koreatown is home to restaurants that specialize in every facet of Korean cuisine. If you're searching for some of the city's best pork, then those in the know will bring up Ham Ji Park. For 2 decades, generous platters of pork ribs and pork neck stew decked every table. Now, our Korean friends lament the loss of their favorite pork joint in the city. The Koreatown proper location is located in the Royal Plaza mini-mall, just a few blocks off bustling Wilshire. Discounted parking is available in a lot across the street from the Chevron gas station. From the street, the entrance is flanked by potted plants and an enclosed street-ery. Inside, stainless steel chairs are pressed up against wooden tables, each outfitted with a metal grill. Oppressive fluorescent lighting shines down on the stone grey walls, which are left undecorated apart from a few flatscreens. Multi-lingual chatter blends with the sizzle of platters. I visited with some friends for a weeknight dinner, and about half of the tables were occupied. We shared a spread of grilled platters and sizzling soups. The meal began with a carafe of barley tea and a mostly standard spread of banchan. Across our food, the best dish was the signature Charbroiled Pork Spare Rib. The ribs were flavorful without feeling gamey, and the meat was complemented by sweet caramelized onions. The pork ribs handily outdid the good-not-great Charbroiled Beef Short Rib. Lastly, the Milt and Cod Rose with Vegetables stew was fishy and briny, appropriately flavored for the Korean palate. The service was appropriately attentive, although I would've appreciated more intentional refills of our banchan ramikens. The rib plates cost upward of $35 each, while the soup was just under $30. The portions were hearty; a single entree platter could reasonably feed 2 moderately hungry bellies. It's a shame to hear that Ham Ji Park has closed; I'm kicking myself for not trying their pork neck stew earlier.

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    JoongHwaRu - korean - Updated July 2026

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