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    Olympic Noodle

    4.1 (464 reviews)
    ModerateKorean, Noodles, Soup
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Olympic Noodle Photos

    Business Info

    OLYMPIC NOODLE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Olympic Noodle

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    Magan C.

    Cute little mom and pop shop hole in the wall. Relatively busy on a weekday during lunch time. I ordered the chicken noodle soup. The portions are huge I ate until I was bursting and it looked like I didn't even touch it !! The noodles are hand pulled and qq! Soup was very rich and "clean" great for when you kind of feel like some sickness is coming on.

    Sujebi
    Vivian L.

    I've been coming here for years...since I was in elementary school! And one thing is that they've never changed. Even their interior. Ultimate home style traditional knife cut noodle place. You'll get a massive bowl of noodles and leave feeling comforted. I love their Sujebi (hand pulled dough soup) A highlight is their kimchi. Extra garlicky and delicious with each slurp of noodles. Never change Olympic Noodle!

    Maruko X.

    Ambiance: it's an old fashioned Korean comfort food restaurant, they have private parking lot in the rear, old facilities and decorations inside Service: the servers wouldn't speak much English and majority diners speak Korean here, but you still can point the pictures and place the order Food: simple menu items for noodles, dumplings, and rice dishes Banchan - *** limited two kinds of daikon and kimchi, but their homemade kimchi is so good Steamed Dumplings - **** freshly made mandu with pork and chives fillings, recommend Korean Chicken and Kimchi Noodle Soup - **** light broth, house made flat noodles, tasty with kimchi and chicken, recommend Price: humongous portions and affordable prices, expect $20 per person for a fulfilling meal, and keep in mind they charge for leftover containers

    Kalbitang oogojee soup.  Surprisingly had a kick of spicy. These flavors were some that make me miss my grandmother so much!
    Anna K.

    Where can I begin... Olympic Noodle may be an older restaurant, but that's exactly where its charm and authenticity come from. The noodles are all handmade, and you can truly taste the care in every bite. The soup is rich, deep, and comforting -- the kind of flavor that feels like it could only come from a grandmother's kitchen. This place is a hidden gem for anyone who loves truly authentic noodles. I am so happy to have found this gem.

    entrance (there's a parking lot in the rear)
    Stephanie C.

    Olympic Noodle has great chicken kalguksu, the broth is very flavorful and rich. Hearty and warm for a cold winter day. Noodles are handmade and chewy with just the right amount of bite. The kimchi is great too. The steamed dumplings had a lot of chives and were super juicy. They were presented in a steamer on top of some cabbage. We visited during peak hours and there was barely any wait since there were so many tables. There is a free parking lot in the back. Prices were great for portion size. You should definitely come here if you want some great noodles and vibes :) You will for sure leave Olympic Noodle with a food coma.

    Seafood pancake
    Jetrina M.

    We went here with some friends on a Friday evening for dinner around 7pm. No reservations and it was not crowded at all, just a few families. We ordered the seafood pancake and the steamed dumplings for the table and my partner and I shared the beef noodle soup. All the portions are huge and shareable. I was a big fan of both the steamed dumplings and the pancake, though I think the pancake was my favorite dish. One of the servers (maybe owner? Think Korean auntie) showed us how to make the dipping sauce for the dumplings which was so tasty! They also had a generous portion of barchan (kimchi and turnip) and gave additional when we finished them. The beef noodle soup was also a large shareable portion for 2 and came with both store bought and handmade noodles. I'm not a huge noodle fan but it was nice on a cold day. Would definitely recommend this place for a homestyle meal! Our total was ~$50 per couple after tax and tip. There is a parking lot in the back with limited spots and also has the spots available to double park. We parked behind our friends car since we were dining together.

    Kalgooksu (seafood)
    Ryoung K.

    The food is amazing. One of the best kalgooksu places in LA. It feels like you're tasting mom's cooking and the portion is Korean mom portion. Huge. service is like any Asian restaurant. Ambiance is like when you go back to grandma's place. Very homey. I'd suggest get 1 kalgooksu, share, get dumplings and maybe jjolmyeon to share so you can taste both hot and cold noodles. There's a small parking lot, but you have to double park so you might have to move your car and stuff. A bit busy during lunch time on a weekday.

    Chicken kalguksu
    Melinda C.

    An authentic, light and hearty meal just west of koreatown. The chicken kalguksu and steamed mandu were a great combo together. Do not underestimate the kalguksu portion size as there are actually a lottt of noodles. We still finished everything! There's no music in the background so it feels like you're eating at grandma's home. Only downside is the limited banchan. Small parking lot in the back and there was no valet person when we went.

    Fried dumpling inside
    H C.

    Frozen in time, and the food tastes it. Interior is cozy, decorated like a traditional Korean home/hanok. Wheelchair accessible entrance & bathrooms. Noodle shop, but we got stews and dumplings. The dumplings had no noodles (aka fillers), all meat and veggies. The dumpling skin was so thin you could see the filling clearly, it was filled to the brim. You can see the ladies in the kitchen as you walk past fold heaping dollop of filling into hand stretched dumpling skin. Soup broth was meaty, yukegajang not as spicy as my mom makes it, but you can add more with their provided spices. So much meat and veggies in the stews. We had to take some home ($0.5 for non plastic to go container) Purple rice, kimchi and pickled radish for Banchan. Minimal spread, but the main dish will leave you full and happy.

    Beef rib cabbage soup
    Jennifer O.

    This place is so legit, everything I've had is really authentic and homey. You only get two banchan, a fresh kimchi and pickled radish, but it's really all you need because they work really well with all their dishes. The kimchi is really punchy! I've gotten the mandu, chicken kalguksu, and beef rib cabbage soup. Their mandu is the some of best I've ever had, the skin is super thin, with lots of filling. The kalguksu noodles are homemade and super chewy. Also, the portion sizes here are very big, so we usually go home with leftovers. I always struggle deciding on what to get here because everything looks so good. They have an attached lot with valet for $3 (cash), so it's easy to park as well. I love this place and would highly recommend it!

    Beef Noodle Soup
    Ashley S.

    I've been wanting to try kalguksu in LA for the longest time and I was so happy with my experience at Olympic Noodle. We went around 3 pm on a Saturday and it was pretty empty and quiet but the Korean ummas were attentive and friendly. I ordered the Beef Noodle Soup and my boyfriend ordered the Chicken Noodle Soup and oh my goodness the portions are HUGE. A bowl is about $20, and I feel like the price is fair considering it could feed 2 people easily. We ended up having to take my bowl to go and just be aware they do charge about 50 cents for togo containers. Overall, I would definitely come back if I was craving a comforting noodle soup because it really felt like a home cooked meal. The beef was a little bit chewy but still had good flavor. The chicken soup felt light and the meat was more tender, but I still preferred the richness of the beef noodle.

    Love the pitcher of water included per table!
    Cindy S.

    Olympic Noodle is cozy a mom n pop Korean noodle house. Since I love all kinds of noodles, so I decided to travel here and try one of their specialty noodles: Knife-cut Noodles Soup (Kalguksu); along with some dumplings. I ordered the Spicy Chicken Kalguksu and it was unbelievably delicious! Very rich in a healthy way (not fatty or oily) and so flavorful! It has a kick of heat, but not too spicy. Safe for non-spicy palates. The house made wheat noodles were also fantastic! Smooth and chewy. The bowl of noodles portion is huge! I also got some steamed dumplings which had pork and chives filling. Not salty and juicy. Very good! The dipping sauce for the dumplings are a "do-it-yourself" condiments placed at each table. Just ask your server if your not sure which sauces/condiments to use and mix. If you love kimchi, their house made kimchi is GREAT! Service was very friendly and helpful. She was very motherly, so nice. Am coming back and trying their cold noodles soon! Parking can be found behind the restaurant also where one would enters the restaurant; the front entrance facing the street (Olympic Blvd) looks closed-up. Payment: I did cash, but I think they take credit cards as well.

    The back entrance where the parking is as well
    Jessica C.

    My new favorite Korean food restaurant!!! Sooo delicious and everything tastes home-made (even the kimchi)! My husband found this place and it proved to be SO delicious!! We ordered the buckwheat spicy cold noodle and pork&leek mandu (dumplings) and both were SO GOOD!!!!! Service was good because we beat the lunch rush! Pricing is average. Parking available in the back so no need to scramble to find parking here!

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    6 months ago

    Love their pumpkin porridge and galbi soup.. famous for their chicken noodle Korean style.. good also

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    got the beef noodle soup. lots of noodles but only one bite of beef. would not recommen

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    Ask the Community - Olympic Noodle

    As of jan 2022 do they have outdoor dining and how many tables?

    I got allergic reaction. I'm allergic to msg. Not sure if some one will confirm/admit they use it. But here I am... hives, chugging allergy medicine. Sigh here we go do they use msg?

    Possibly, but MSG is also a natural ingredient found in many every day ingredients such as tomatoes, grapes, cheese and mushrooms oh and Doritos. Particularly dried mushrooms which is often used in making broths.

    Are the noodles Gluten free?

    No

    View All 4 Questions

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    Hangari Kalguksu - (LARGE) Hangari Bossam

    Hangari Kalguksu

    4.4(3.2k reviews)
    1.5 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)

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    (MEDIUM) Hangari Bossam (Serves 2)

    Anju House - covered patio seating

    Anju House

    4.4(695 reviews)
    1.4 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

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    Danbi - Wagyu zabuton

    Danbi

    4.5(383 reviews)
    1.6 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

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    Pork cheek

    Kobawoo House - Kimchi Jjigae

    Kobawoo House

    4.3(1.6k reviews)
    1.8 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

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    Jangban Guksoo Vegan

    Borit Gogae - Dwenjang

    Borit Gogae

    4.4(511 reviews)
    0.9 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

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    Grilled spareribs

    Ham Ji Park

    Ham Ji Park

    4.2(1.8k reviews)
    1.6 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.

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