Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    MDK Noodles

    4.1 (1.9k reviews)
    ModerateKorean, Noodles, Soup
    Closed 10:00 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order MDK Noodles Takeout or Delivery

    MDK Noodles Photos

    Business Info

    MDK NOODLES ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - MDK Noodles

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Kalguksu and Bulgogi Bimbimbap
    Kevin C.

    Ordered Kalguksu and Bulgogi Bimbimbap to go. Definitely best eaten in person but took it to go this time. Broth was really flavorful and the separation of all the foods was well arranged. Added my own side dishes as well but otherwise this was a plenty nice meal. Would come again to try other options with a larger group. Order didn't take too long to prepare and wait in their spacious restaurant.

    Spicy Knife Cut Noodles in Chicken Broth (Spicy Kalguksu)
    Kathryn F.

    Unfortunately, the vegan dishes and others that sounded good were not on the menu today. The kimchis were very good. My noodles were soft without any bite. The dumplings in the soup were meh. The spicy broth was not bad, but also not very spicy. My husband thought his bulgogi bibimbap was overpriced and not as good as BCD and the Ktown Plaza food court. The short, wide stone pot doesn't hold heat as well as the taller stone pots and so the rice doesn't get crisp. MDK gets high marks for cleanliness. The space is casual and bright. Service is efficient and staff observe good hygiene practices.

    Diane K.

    Yesterday, Saturday evening, March 14th, I had dinner at MDK Noodles with my Mom and my brothers. I've probably been here more than 70 times over the years, from a very long time ago until now, but this is actually the first time I'm writing a review for this place. A long time ago, there was always a long line during lunchtime, and we often had to wait quite a while to eat here. But these days, whenever I pass by, it seems much quieter and not nearly as crowded as it used to be. Still, the kalguksu here is always delicious, so I continue to enjoy it every time I visit. I used to really like their shrimp dumplings as well, but at some point the taste seemed to change, so I don't order those anymore. Last night, all four of us ordered kalguksu, and we really enjoyed it. When you order kalguksu here, if you ask for rice, they give it to you without charging extra. The rice is very good, and their regular kimchi and water kimchi are both delicious. I also like that the spoons, chopsticks, and napkins are placed on the table so customers can take them freely whenever they need them. The broth for the kalguksu is very rich, and the noodles are wonderfully chewy. Also, every time I come here, the staff are always friendly, which is really good.

    Rice Cake Dumpling Soup
    Luke W.

    It really hit the spot today since it was a hot day. They have free parking and street parking also wasn't hard to find. On a Sunday, they were not too busy for lunch so we did not have to wait. I really enjoyed their kimchi. The arrowhead noodles were also good, but if you like to eat meat, I'd suggest ordering something on the side like the dumplings

    Pork Dumplings, fried dumplings
    Jocelyn Y.

    Dumplings were delicious! Strong sesame oil taste, great texture. Kalguksu was okay, noodles were the perfect texture but the dumplings in there were mediocre, and there wasn't much inside besides noodles. Broth was okay. Service was alright too, we waited a while to get the check. Interior is clean and comfortable. Would come again to try other menu items though!

    Knife Cut Noodle in Chicken Broth (Kalguksu)
    Kristin M.

    I LOVE SOUP!!!! dumplings are delicious and i like that they have a thin skin. it was my first time trying kalguksu and it tasted great. the spicy version is also not too spicy if anyone is wondering. the kimchi at the table was some of the best i've had and loaded with spice--spicier than the spicy kalguksu lol. place is nice and spacious, service was fast. i recommend

    Rice cake soup in chicken broth
    Jessie Y.

    Would come back just for the pork dumplings! The dumplings were delicious, as were the complimentary kimchi banchans. The regular red kimchi was extra garlicky and perfect for garlic lovers, and the white kimchi was acidic and tied the meal together. The knife cut noodles and the rice cake soup came in huge portions and delivered great value. I'm not sure if they were shortstaffed on New Year's Day but a number of the pork dumplings as well as the smaller/flatter dumplings in the soup came broken. I would probably get the pork dumplings again, save some room for the house kimchi, skip the kalguksu and try the cold noodle or bibimbap next time! The service was mostly prompt, the ambiance was casual, and there was quite a bit of a wait between the time we put our names down and the time we got seated. It's not in a plaza so may not be best for a very large group but great for a casual meal for 2-4. Street parking was available and it looked like they validate for a nearby lot too.

    Red Kimchi (Small)
    Jacqueline T.

    It's the new year day. We came here for dumpling rice cake soup. We were here at 11:30 and plenty of tables. We were greeted promptly. We ordered and got the two different Kimchis. Since it's a cold and rainy day, the rice cake dumpling soup was perfect. It came in a big bowl. The soup had a umami flavor. The rice cakes, dumplings, shredded potties, minced pork and seafood were perfectly complemented each other in the soup. The broth was really good. I could only finish half of the soup, some leftover for dinner. Since it's the new year day, there was plenty of street parking. I saw a sign about validated parking at the structure across from the restaurant. Nice lunch!

    Helen Y.

    I'm so glad our friends introduced us to this amazing Korean restaurant. It is so packed, and it's legit. Their kimchi is so fresh, and one of the best I've had. Actually, all the food we ordered was pretty amazing. I enjoyed the food a lot. Their dumpling was perfect. The skin of the dumpling was thin and chewy and the stuffing inside was very flavorful. My son loves it. The seafood pancake was crunchy and a nice shareable appetizer. The noodles are huge portion. I should have split it because I definitely couldn't finish it by myself. If you want authentic Korean comfort food, definitely check this spot out. You can look for street parking or other paid parking lots near by.

    Brian K.

    Something I crave being out in the Midwest (Korean food desert), are kalgooksoos from MDK. Tried the naengmyun here for the first time as well and it delivered.

    Pork Dumplings
    Edward S.

    Check out MDK Noodles if you are in the mood for knife cut noodles in a comforting bowl of hot chicken soup. It goes nicely with steamed pork and vegetable dumplings. If the weather is hot, cool off with a bowl of their cold noodle soup. Kalguksu: The chicken soup is silky and delicious. The knife-cut noodles are fresh and slightly softer than al dente. While the woodear mushrooms provide a snappy texture, the chives and translucent onions are soft and comforting. Topping the bowl are little pork dumplings and ground chicken. For more flavor, add some of the briny garlic sauce from the jar on the table. Pork Dumplings: The wrappers are really thin. They'll probably tear open as you pick them up from the steamer. The minced pork is soft and smooth. There's a crispness to the chopped napa cabbage, radish, and chives. Pork Bulgogi with Rice: The soy and gochujang sauce with garlic and ginger is sweet, savory, and spicy. The thin slices of pork are caramelized and helped by soft scallions and onions. Kimchi: The kimchi here is some of the best around with a great balance of flavors and textures. Fresh not fermented It is crisp and fresh and probably hasn't been fermented. The extreme amount of garlic seems to energize the sweet and savory flavors. Dining Area: The dining area is bright and airy with over 20 tables. The space is large, so the tables are luxuriously spaced apart. Parking: Parking here is a challenge. There is metered street parking in the surrounding neighborhood, but you may have to circle a few times and walk many blocks.

    Dumplings and rice cakes
    Dave H.

    One of the best OG Korean noodle shops in K-Town. Always popular and busy. Hand cut noodles and rice cakes plus homemade dumplings. Wonderful super steaming hot chicken and anchovy broths - regular or spicy. Some of the best Kim Chee super fresh and spiced just right! Validated Parking in structure just half block down the side street.

    Spicy Knife Cut Noodles in Chicken Broth (Spicy Kalguksu)
    Itzel M.

    I love noodles, and this place never disappoints -- it's one of my favorites. The food is great, the service is fast and attentive, and the restaurant is clean with tables usually available. I work down the street and often come here for lunch with my coworkers. It's definitely worth trying.

    See all

    20 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    30 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 5
    Love this 10
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dave H.
    4979
    983
    11197

    9 months ago

    Helpful 26
    Thanks 12
    Love this 27
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    20 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Stuart W.
    73
    450
    1975

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 49

    Ask the Community - MDK Noodles

    Why isn't the kongguksu vegan? Can it be made vegan?

    The dish itself is vegan! They must've just forgotten to label that on the menu. Unless MDK makes it differently, it is made from soybean so there is no meat in it.

    Do they sell dumplings frozen to take home?

    we make the dumplings fresh daily so we do not sell any frozen dumplings. Sorry !

    Is it easy to find parking?

    yes around the corner

    A recent review mentioned no outdoor seating anymore? Is this true?

    none when I went a few weeks ago.

    Hi, Are you open on New Year's Day?

    Yes, we have extended hours from 8am-10pm

    Are you open on 24th-26th of December?

    Yes but we will be closing early on Christmas Eve at 4pm

    Do they have outdoor seating and do they take reservations? I called and was told no outdoor seating, but the internet seems to suggest otherwise.

    Not sure about reservations but I was there less than 2 weeks ago and it was indoor dining only. Their outdoor patio was closed.

    Is the kimchi vegan-friendly or does it contain shrimp/anchovies? Also, are there any vegan-friendly dishes?

    (8; is good

    The brick walls, did they used to be glass? I went to a noodle/mandu shop a few years ago that looked similar but the front of the restaurant was all glass. Have been trying to find this place ever since.

    We have a combination of brick and glass. Before the exterior walls were like a yellow, faded and outdated. Also, the windows did not have the logo on it like we did currently. We also had a repaint of the interior as well, and the back area was not… Read more

    What is their specialty?

    Kal Guk Su (knife-cut noodles) & pork dumplings. They are the first items at the top of the menu for noodles & dumplings.… Read more

    Are they closed? They haven't been open everyday this past week when I passed by.

    Yes. They are closed from 11/4-11/7. Open again on 11/8. I posted a picture of the sign in Tips.

    Are they open thanksgiving?

    Usually yes. They have been historically. I would say about half (if not more) of the restaurants in Ktown are open on Thanksgiving.

    Has anyone ever gotten the Kal gu suk as takeout? I'm wondering if they package the noodles/dumplings separate from the broth to keep it from getting soggy. I want to bring it to my friend but it's a bit of a drive... thanks in advance!

    you can ask for them to pack the noodles uncooked and you cook it yourself when you get home.

    View All 17 Questions

    You might also consider

    Hangari Kalguksu - (LARGE) Hangari Bossam

    Hangari Kalguksu

    4.4(3.2k reviews)
    0.4 miWilshire Center, Koreatown
    $$
    Women-owned & operated
    10 years in business

    Visited Hangari on Saturday evening to try their renown Kalguksu with some friends. I've known that…read morespecific parking lot/strip mall to be a nightmare parking wise, so I bit the bullet and used the on-site valet. There is sometimes street parking but the availability is rough, it's tough to park, and even one of the meters we ended up at just didn't work. They only charge a $5 cash service charge though, which isn't bad. We were lucky to be seated right away, even in a packed restaurant. The restaurant has a surprisingly modern design, and is comfortable for as small as it is. We were quickly served their signature kimchis and barley rice. The kimchi, particularly the yeolmu (young summer radish) kimchi, has a unique flavor profile well suited to their food. We ordered 2 bowls of their plain kalgooksu, 1 bibim milmyun, and 1 tteokbokki. The food came out fairly quickly. The kalgooksu was as expected the star of the show. The anchovy broth brings a savory complexity that seems impossible for a soup made from just dried fish and a few other ingredients. It even has a rich, almost thick, quality to it that is surprising for a fish broth. Their noodles, the titular kalgooksu, have the signature irregularity and chew of knife cut noodles. I appreciate the vegetables that always come in kalgooksu, like potato, pumpkin, and zucchini, which offer an earthy heartiness to the light soup. My only complaint is that the potato is in huge irregular chunks, and is barely cooked, though I feel like I have had this issue with many of the kalgooksu bowls I've had over the years. The bibim milmyun was solid. I think that I prefer the texture and flavor of naengmyeon buckwheat noodles, but the milmyun, which are made with mostly wheat flour, still provide a satisfying chew. The sauce tasted bright and fresh, especially with a splash of added vinegar. It also came with a small side portion of spicy pork and some rice paper to wrap. The tteokbokki was the one let down of the meal. To be fair, I wasn't expecting much out of tteokbokki at all restaurant like this whose specialty is essentially the opposite. I ordered the tteokbokki as a "safe pick" for a picky eater in the group. It turned out to be a bit mediocre in our opinion, and that friend ended up enjoying their kalgooksu anyways. If you're looking to try this dish, it's definitely one of if not the best I've had in Southern California, so I'd totally recommend it. I'll also warn to steer clear of the Garden Grove restaurant of the same name and specialty. I think it's a disappointing mimicry of this place.

    Heard great things about this restaurant so I was very excited to try it while I was in town. Came…read moreon Sunday night at 7pm, and was very pleasantly surprised they had plenty of open tables to seat our party of 3 immediately. What we ordered: - Clam Kalguksu (5/5): this was sooo good! The noodle texture and broth favor was amazing. I would definitely order this again if I come back! - Large Bossam (4.5/5): I absolutely love bossam and this was exactly what I expect when I order bossam. Only reason it's not 5/5 is it's not really any different from bossam elsewhere. Overall, this place is definitely worth the hype and I will be come back when I'm in the ktown area again!

    Photos
    Hangari Kalguksu - Belly and Jowl & Chicken-KALGUKSU

    Belly and Jowl & Chicken-KALGUKSU

    Hangari Kalguksu - Bossam jowl combo

    Bossam jowl combo

    Hangari Kalguksu - (MEDIUM) Hangari Bossam (Serves 2)

    See all

    (MEDIUM) Hangari Bossam (Serves 2)

    Anju House - covered patio seating

    Anju House

    4.4(694 reviews)
    0.6 miKoreatown
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

    It was my first time here. The place is very nice and love the decor…read more The parking is valet or street parking. The service was very good. The chicken was a little in the dry side but overall all the food was good. We will be back!

    I'll start with the positives. The location is very nice. Designed with an elegant, but…read moreminimalistic vibe. I love that, traditional mixed modern social dining feel. I had placed a phone order, for pick up; upon arrival, I found the service was prompt. I saw my food ready to go, just past the main walk-in area. Almost immediately after that, I was taken care of by the host and on my way. I've been waiting to try this place for ages so on the drive back to work I was excited to steal a piece of meat from the bag. Initial bite flavor was good, meat was tender just a bit on the chewy side.. I wasn't bothered by it too much as I'd have to leave it in an oven warmer at work. Trying to keep food warm, in doing so, I knew there'd be only two possible outcomes, melting tender or either tough & dry. So, the dish of meat and rice sat in the warmer for almost an hour hour and a half. The downhill slope.... Set the "meat " on the veggies and began to eat. Meat after meat, I kept experiencing the same exact texture. It was the same exact rubbery chew, I initially tasted. Each and every piece was the same exact flavor. There was no peak, there was no pitfall. If you cook or grill, you know this is a red flag. Normally, consistency would be a good thing, a Master craftsman type experience, but this was NOT it. As go on, I get the sinking feeling, this can't be real meat. I lock in, the deeper I dig, each piece looks the same, broken apart the same, tastes the same, just various shapes. They can call me crazy for this one - I'll stand by it. Something is not right here. I'm not even going to throw it away. I'm going to study it for the next few days and post an updated review. I hope I'm wrong but as of right now, I'll never revisit this place. Too freaky of an experience. We

    Photos
    Anju House
    Anju House - Inside

    Inside

    Anju House

    See all

    Danbi - Wagyu zabuton

    Danbi

    4.5(383 reviews)
    0.5 miWilshire Center, Koreatown
    $$$

    We went shortly after they opened and it got busier as the night went on. The Honey butter chips…read moreare dripping with the honey butter sauce & I wished I had a whole bowl of that. The Grilled jowl was thinly sliced & one of my favorite dishes of the night! The Zabuton came out still sizzling on a bed of onions- I absolutely loved this & it is definitely shareable between 2 or more people. The Scallop pancake had baby scallops cooked in to it- very fluffy & filling, another shareable dish between 2 or more people. The Mushroom bibimbap mixed with the sauce is a great vegetarian dish! Parking- $10 self park in the plaza

    Food Seaweed salad…read more Elevated and the best I've had, easily. The only issue is I can't really eat too much of it. The cherry tomatoes bursted with acidity and umami. 4.7/5 Honey butter chips. I've eaten an alarming amount of chips in my life and I will say these are solid but nothing noteworthy. The chips had no warmth to them and were slathered with decently flavorful honey butter that pooled to the bottom. 4.2/5 Mushroom bimibap - A very balanced dish with cohesive elements. Wish there were more mushrooms as they of course were the best part. The chili sauce was solid but the dish benefitted when we added another half portion of it and mixed it in. 4.4/5 Waygu - A decent flavor (definitely needed the flakey salt), portion and a nice medium rare cook, wall to wall. The steak was not as tender as I hoped it would be and some extra chewing was required. The banchan was all solid. It reminded me of Cote's but actually edible. 4.5/5 Yuzu popsicle - Definitely the best popsicle I've ever had. Refreshing and light. Balanced sweet to sour flavor. 4.7/5 Service A decent job. Good hostess. The steak took longer than expected to come out? Perhaps the kitchen messed it up and had to start over. Either that or maybe the waiters were busy. Or maybe it just takes a while to make it. Not sure. The waitress did the job competently but nothing above that. Overall, definitely not Michelin level service. 4.4/5 Ambiance A little too loud and it affected the entire vibe because I had to raise my voice to speak with the waitress. It became easier to just use nods and thumbs up. Like Cobis, a very modern and upscale restaurant that is hampered by lighting that is too dark. Pictures turned out good because I used another phone's flash. Just a little more light would be so much of an improvement without losing the romantic intent. Bathroom was average. 4.5/5 Overall, I had a solid meal that left my mood elevated. The service or food weren't as good as Cobis, Barsha, Ammatoli, or even Sonoratown - all top LA restaurants, but still worthy of a experience and I may return. 4.5/5 I would highly recommend Chois in San Diego as an extremely similar modern Korean fusion restaurant that also had better food, service, and ambiance. That place was 5/5 in every way.

    Photos
    Danbi - Inside bar

    Inside bar

    Danbi - Perilla Cild Noodle

    Perilla Cild Noodle

    Danbi - Pork cheek

    See all

    Pork cheek

    Kobawoo House - Kimchi Jjigae

    Kobawoo House

    4.3(1.6k reviews)
    0.8 miWilshire Center, Koreatown
    $$

    What more can I say? This K-town staple consistently delivers when you're craving Korean cuisine…read more We started our meal with a generous portion of Haemool Pajeon (Seafood Pancake), which arrived sizzling on a hot plate reminiscent of a Chili's Fajita Plate. Next came the main attraction: the Bossam Plate, featuring simmered and cooled pork belly sliced to perfection. When you wrap all the other ingredients together, they create the perfect bite. Just after the Bossam Plate hits the table, a bubbling cauldron of Kimchi JJigae (Kimchi Stew) follows behind just in time to help wash down the delectable bites of bossam. Don't forget to order some rice because you'll need something to soak up the stew which turns the rice into a whole meal by itself. The service was jovial and welcoming, and like other Korean establishments, they have a handy-dandy button that jolts the attention of every server working whenever you're in need of service. The small space is very cozy, just the way I like it when I'm visiting with my loved ones. They don't have an extensive menu, just the OG staple items, but I feel the taste has improved over the years. I wish Kobawoo were closer to where I live, or I would be here this weekend, but perhaps it's a good thing we're so far apart.

    This place has been here for so long, I haven't been here in yrs! I was in the area so I decide to…read moredo a take out for lunch to take home for me and my family, such a disappointment! $76.80 for 3 dishes and what a puny portions these are, like a kid's portion. Very small kimchi maybe one or two bites. Three orders that I'm surprised that they give such a small amount of banchan. How can establishment justify this high priced meal for such small portions? God and I drove all the way from South Bay, stuck in traffic for almost 1 1/2 hrs of this. Maybe this is the type of place you should dine in only?? Do not ever do take out here! The food in general was just ok. Nothing special and Kimchi soup was very salty. Threw all 3. Wow, what a waste of money. Very disappointing... I guess I won't be coming here ever again.

    Photos
    Kobawoo House - Popular place. Had to wait 30 minutes for a table for 6 on a weekday at 6:15pm which is not bad!

    Popular place. Had to wait 30 minutes for a table for 6 on a weekday at 6:15pm which is not bad!

    Kobawoo House - Lunch Jangban Guksoo

    Lunch Jangban Guksoo

    Kobawoo House - Jangban Guksoo Vegan

    See all

    Jangban Guksoo Vegan

    Borit Gogae - Dwenjang

    Borit Gogae

    4.4(511 reviews)
    0.3 miKoreatown
    $$$

    Be prepared to walk away feeling very full. We got the set meal here, which came served with…read moreappetizers, barley rice, a lot of banchan (and by that I meant a LOT), soup, congee, dessert, etc. It was definitely more than enough food. We also got an additional order of LA kalbi for some protein. The meat quality was good but I felt like the meat was not marinated long enough and so the flavor was a little bit lacking. If only it just sat in the marinade for a couple more hours, I think this would have been perfect. The tofu soup was not my favorite, to be very honest. There was some flavor in there that made it smell like a stinky towel. Very different from other soondubu soup places and unfortunately not for me. Everything else we had was excellent and I would definitely come back again just for the barley rice and banchan. Service was quick and servers were nice. We also came at 3pm on Saturday so there was no wait. Recommended!

    Across the street from the new Zion market is this wonderful and unique Korean eatery. Unlike most…read moreof the run-of-the-mill Korean restaurants in Koreatown this restaurant serves unique appetizers and a multi-course set menu that gives you a taste of a variety of authentic Korean village food - like pumpkin porridge and acorn jelly salad. It's a lot of food for the price ($35 pp at this writing). While the minimum order is for 2 people, we've tried sharing the 2-people order among 3 and it worked for us, with addition of a couple of other items from the menu. The Korean BBQ beef is at par with most other nice restaurants in K town; their marinated crab was delicious! Service is okay - given how busy they are! Most servers are not very conversant in English so a little patience would help you get the right things you need. Nice and unique vibe with Korean handicraft items and art work on display (and for sale, I believe).

    Photos
    Borit Gogae - Restaurant decor- art work and Korean figurines

    Restaurant decor- art work and Korean figurines

    Borit Gogae - Barley rice mixed with side dishes

    Barley rice mixed with side dishes

    Borit Gogae - Grilled spareribs

    See all

    Grilled spareribs

    Ham Ji Park

    Ham Ji Park

    4.2(1.8k reviews)
    0.5 miWilshire Center, Koreatown
    $$$

    Really sad that Ham Ji Park is closing down permanently. For years, this place has been our…read morefamily's go-to place for pork spare ribs - the best in town. In fact, we regularly brought visitors here. They raved about how good the spare ribs were and even insisted that their last meal before LA should be at Ham Ji Park.  Here's my belated review of what I consider the best spare ribs in LA. From the moment the Korean-style spare ribs arrived at the table, it was clear this was a dish worth savoring. Each rib bore a beautifully charred exterior--deeply caramelized without a hint of bitterness--offering that irresistible smoky aroma the moment it was placed before us. The glaze was nothing short of spectacular. A perfect balance of sweet and spicy, it clung to the meat with a glossy sheen that promised flavor in every bite. There was just enough heat to make your taste buds sit up and pay attention, but it never overwhelmed the deeper, richer notes of the sweet components. But what truly set these ribs apart was the texture. Beneath the charred surface lay meat so tender it practically fell off the bone with the gentlest tug of a fork. Each bite was juicy and succulent, the result of careful cooking and a respect for quality ingredients. Ham Ji Park, you will be missed. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for the food.

    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.

    Photos
    Ham Ji Park
    Ham Ji Park
    Ham Ji Park

    See all

    MDK Noodles - korean - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...