LA: Summertime Korean Cold Noodles at The Corner Place
I love staying with locals when I travel because they introduce me to all the GOOD food and fun.
My friend Sonia suggested we go to The Corner Place in LA's Korea Town after a night of too much (okay maybe just enough) partying. She said that in terms of local fame, The Corner Place is like the Korean version of Ding Tai Fung (super popular Taiwanese soup dumpling restaurant), and after a visit, I understand why!
The Corner Place is famous for their Dong Chi Mi Gook Soo. It's a cold noodle soup with thin rice noodles (a la Vietnamese Pho) in a vinegary broth with scallions, cucumber slices and tomato. This was my first time having it and I have to admit I was a bit skeptical at first. However, it's surprisingly refreshing and goes so well with the Korean BBQ that you can also order here. It also seems like a great noodle dish for the summer when ramen and udon is just a little bit too heavy.
On our visit, we had 5 people and got 5 of the cold noodle soups (the large size is humungous but our boys devoured it all anyway) as well as an order of the galbi (the cheaper version) and pork belly (my fave!).
Pork belly ready to be BBQed
They also give you the standard assortment of side dishes, a scallion salad that you eat with your BBQ meat and small individual dishes of sesame oil (mix in some salt and pepper and that is your BBQ meat dipping sauce).
BBQed galbi with bean sprouts and scallion salad
We were able to finish all our food, but were stuffed! I'd have to say that the Korean BBQ was delicious, but you must come for the cold noodle soup!
P.S. No worries if you aren't Korean and can't pronounce things (I can't!). They have a handy menu on the table and the cold noodle soup is the first thing listed in red -- I would just point! =P
Have you guys ever tried these cold noodles before? What do you think about having this on a hot summer day?
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2819 James M Wood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90006
(213) 487-0968
Parking lot is small, but heard there is also a lot across the street.
Free refills on side dishes, scallion salad, sesame oil and tea/water, but they charge for rice.