The food here was delicious and fresh, very friendly service. There are English menus available. The breakfast menu is a steal, the soups are huge and very good (had the fish soup and the seaweed soup). The sundae is amazing (got it to go and I'm eating it now). Wasn't a fan of the pancake, felt like it lacked seasoning.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steamed Dumpling, Seaweed Soup, Korean Sausage Soondae Plate
Woo J.
I need to mention the cleanliness first. If you are like me, and gets grossed out seeing sticky condiment containers and utensils, this is your haven. They keep the table, utensils and condiment containers so clean, you will feel super comfortable. Never seen any restaurant that peovides the utensils in hot water to show how serious they are about sanitation. The soondae soup was legit and their banchans were soooo good too!!! The ladies were so friendly too so this will be my go to place for soon dae soup going forward.
Haeun C.
I was in the area for a consulate appointment and wanted authentic Korean food. It was pretty chilly after the rain so I thought I would get 순대국 (soondaeguk). Soondaeguk can be a little tricky - even from some famous soondaeguk places in Korea you may get this "pork smell/aftertaste" which turns you off. This place's soondaeguk didn't have that. It was clean and comforting, and hit the spot. It was just what I wanted for a chilly morning. All banchan dishes were good too. Most importantly, the ladies who tend the shop were so sweet and clean. The lady who served the food took care in putting banchan in each dish in a clean and delicate manner, which I really appreciated. Everything was served to me in a way that I felt I was cared for. She gave me space to enjoy the food but also checked if I needed more banchan dishes or anything else in a very sweet, nice, low-key way. I really really appreciated her service. The place was small, but very homey and clean. I definitely recommend this place for a nice, authentic Soondaeguk. This place made a two hour drive to the consulate worth it.
Gemma Niederriter
Such a hidden gem! Food and service all great.$10 for breakfast including soup, rice, and 6 side dishes is incredible. $12.99 for SoonDae soup was great as well. Grilled fish (GaJaMi) tasted great without any fish smell. They said they dried them on their own.Server was very attentive to check if we would need any side dishes, like she was reading my mind.They had a very welcoming ambiance, Juhng in Korean, that they really want to feed customers well with the highest care they show, even to strangers. I appreciate feeling that welcome from Korean restaurants, but not all Korean restaurants offer that welcoming feeling.Their open time 7am also helped a lot, as waiting until 9am to have breakfast starves me.It's a small restaurant with 4-5 tables. The chef and server made it so nice and warm.I took my spouse here for their birthday and ate there several times during my last visit to LA. I will definitely want to go back here next time I would be around. Please stay strong and have this business for a long time.
Seohyun P.
A place I will forever gatekeep. The place is small (about five tables) and is very much home style Korean food for very cheap price. A place that Korean grandmas and moms would like and not complain about if they just wanted classic Korean food. Sorry, but they don't have an english menu. So bring your friend who can speak/read Korean! Street parking only
Gemma N.
Such a hidden gem! Food and service all great. $10 for breakfast including soup, rice, and 6 side dishes is incredible. $12.99 for SoonDae soup was great as well. Grilled fish (GaJaMi) tasted great without any fish smell. They said they dried them on their own. Server was very attentive to check if we would need any side dishes, like she was reading my mind. They had a very welcoming ambiance, Juhng in Korean, that they really want to feed customers well with the highest care they show, even to strangers. I appreciate feeling that welcome from Korean restaurants, but not all Korean restaurants offer that welcoming feeling. Their open time 7am also helped a lot, as waiting until 9am to have breakfast starves me. It's a small restaurant with 4-5 tables. The chef and server made it so nice and warm. I took my spouse here for their birthday and ate there several times during my last visit to LA. I will definitely want to go back here next time I would be around. Please stay strong and have this business for a long time.
S David Chang
The best sundae and sundae soup...
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yilin Wong
Liked the pork soup better than the fish one, just personal taste. Great sausage and bean soup noodle
Hen A.
hole-in-the-wall restaurant entrance from ardmore on the corner of 8th...pink racoon looking cartoon character...opens 6:30am with $10 korean soup breakfast specials until 10am...korean comfort food served...small restaurant with couple tables in a humble environment...taking a kong-guksoo (bean broth noodles) $15.50...an acquired taste for those who love the earthy flavors of the thick ground soybean broth...served cold with hint of salt...quite refreshing and good...others taking the dweji gukbap (pork soup with rice) $16.50...clean white flavorful broth loaded with pork...garnish with green onions and season as needed, but quite a hearty soup...soondae-guk (blood sausage soup) $16 is similar soup, but served with blood sausages on the side...soups were delicious and hearty...filling for an adult...while the location and atmosphere is quite humble, the food is traditional korean and soups are quite soothing...
Camille L
One of the best soondae we’ve tried around SoCal. The oyster pancake was perfectly cooked. The staff was awesome, will definitely go back.
Don Don Lee Soondae is a gem. The food is GOOD. Soondae has good bite/texture and balanced flavor - goes nicely with either the salt or salted shrimp. I am sensitive to gamey, strong odors so one reviewer's/comment about the soondae being 'porky not in a good way' caught my eye, but to me the soondae tasted subtle and refined. Banchan is fresh, tasty, and varied - shows care/attention! Same said for everything I've ever had here. Ground soybean stew ("kongbiji jjigae") is not easy to find, and the one here reminds me of my grandma Kind and welcoming ambiance. I am so grateful this place exists.
Jason R
Great food & service. Very
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Korean Pancake, Seaweed Soup
C Lee
Menu is in Korean so if you are willing to struggle with the menu and eat organ meats and blood sausage. This is your place. I had the blood sausage soup. The broth was rich and creamy from the bone marrow with a clean not animal like taste. Very comforting. The blood sausage was was clean tasting no animalness or mineral taste to it. It was actually mild. Less meaty like black pudding.If you are adventurous enough this is a superb and affordable meal.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Master Yi
I like Ugeoji Galbitang, and I enjoy food with refreshing soup in the morning, but this place opens early in the morning and the Ugeoji Galbitang is so delicious that when I come to LA, I have Ugeoji Galbitang for breakfast.?
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Debbie L.
I really really wanted to like this place bc hole in the wall spots are my jam. I got the soondae soup and I found it to be very porky (not in a good way). I also got a combo soondae and while the soondae itself is ok, the rest of the organ meats were pretty tough. The banchan they give you is bombbb though and their kimchi is perfect for gookbap. I'm not sure if I'd come back for another go considering there are so many other great gookbap options in ktown :( Also I tried making soondae bokkkeum with the leftover soondae and it was still so porky that I gave up eating it halfway. I absolutely love soondae so this was a travesty for me :(
The food here was delicious and fresh, very friendly service. There are English menus available. The breakfast menu is a steal, the soups are huge and very good (had the fish soup and the seaweed soup). The sundae is amazing (got it to go and I'm eating it now). Wasn't a fan of the pancake, felt like it lacked seasoning.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steamed Dumpling, Seaweed Soup, Korean Sausage Soondae Plate
I need to mention the cleanliness first. If you are like me, and gets grossed out seeing sticky condiment containers and utensils, this is your haven. They keep the table, utensils and condiment containers so clean, you will feel super comfortable. Never seen any restaurant that peovides the utensils in hot water to show how serious they are about sanitation. The soondae soup was legit and their banchans were soooo good too!!! The ladies were so friendly too so this will be my go to place for soon dae soup going forward.
I was in the area for a consulate appointment and wanted authentic Korean food. It was pretty chilly after the rain so I thought I would get 순대국 (soondaeguk). Soondaeguk can be a little tricky - even from some famous soondaeguk places in Korea you may get this "pork smell/aftertaste" which turns you off. This place's soondaeguk didn't have that. It was clean and comforting, and hit the spot. It was just what I wanted for a chilly morning. All banchan dishes were good too. Most importantly, the ladies who tend the shop were so sweet and clean. The lady who served the food took care in putting banchan in each dish in a clean and delicate manner, which I really appreciated. Everything was served to me in a way that I felt I was cared for. She gave me space to enjoy the food but also checked if I needed more banchan dishes or anything else in a very sweet, nice, low-key way. I really really appreciated her service. The place was small, but very homey and clean. I definitely recommend this place for a nice, authentic Soondaeguk. This place made a two hour drive to the consulate worth it.
Such a hidden gem! Food and service all great.$10 for breakfast including soup, rice, and 6 side dishes is incredible. $12.99 for SoonDae soup was great as well. Grilled fish (GaJaMi) tasted great without any fish smell. They said they dried them on their own.Server was very attentive to check if we would need any side dishes, like she was reading my mind.They had a very welcoming ambiance, Juhng in Korean, that they really want to feed customers well with the highest care they show, even to strangers. I appreciate feeling that welcome from Korean restaurants, but not all Korean restaurants offer that welcoming feeling.Their open time 7am also helped a lot, as waiting until 9am to have breakfast starves me.It's a small restaurant with 4-5 tables. The chef and server made it so nice and warm.I took my spouse here for their birthday and ate there several times during my last visit to LA. I will definitely want to go back here next time I would be around. Please stay strong and have this business for a long time.
A place I will forever gatekeep. The place is small (about five tables) and is very much home style Korean food for very cheap price. A place that Korean grandmas and moms would like and not complain about if they just wanted classic Korean food. Sorry, but they don't have an english menu. So bring your friend who can speak/read Korean! Street parking only
Such a hidden gem! Food and service all great. $10 for breakfast including soup, rice, and 6 side dishes is incredible. $12.99 for SoonDae soup was great as well. Grilled fish (GaJaMi) tasted great without any fish smell. They said they dried them on their own. Server was very attentive to check if we would need any side dishes, like she was reading my mind. They had a very welcoming ambiance, Juhng in Korean, that they really want to feed customers well with the highest care they show, even to strangers. I appreciate feeling that welcome from Korean restaurants, but not all Korean restaurants offer that welcoming feeling. Their open time 7am also helped a lot, as waiting until 9am to have breakfast starves me. It's a small restaurant with 4-5 tables. The chef and server made it so nice and warm. I took my spouse here for their birthday and ate there several times during my last visit to LA. I will definitely want to go back here next time I would be around. Please stay strong and have this business for a long time.
The best sundae and sundae soup...
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Liked the pork soup better than the fish one, just personal taste. Great sausage and bean soup noodle
hole-in-the-wall restaurant entrance from ardmore on the corner of 8th...pink racoon looking cartoon character...opens 6:30am with $10 korean soup breakfast specials until 10am...korean comfort food served...small restaurant with couple tables in a humble environment...taking a kong-guksoo (bean broth noodles) $15.50...an acquired taste for those who love the earthy flavors of the thick ground soybean broth...served cold with hint of salt...quite refreshing and good...others taking the dweji gukbap (pork soup with rice) $16.50...clean white flavorful broth loaded with pork...garnish with green onions and season as needed, but quite a hearty soup...soondae-guk (blood sausage soup) $16 is similar soup, but served with blood sausages on the side...soups were delicious and hearty...filling for an adult...while the location and atmosphere is quite humble, the food is traditional korean and soups are quite soothing...
One of the best soondae we’ve tried around SoCal. The oyster pancake was perfectly cooked. The staff was awesome, will definitely go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steamed Dumpling, Sundae, Oyster Pancake
Restaurantji Recommends
Don Don Lee Soondae is a gem. The food is GOOD. Soondae has good bite/texture and balanced flavor - goes nicely with either the salt or salted shrimp. I am sensitive to gamey, strong odors so one reviewer's/comment about the soondae being 'porky not in a good way' caught my eye, but to me the soondae tasted subtle and refined. Banchan is fresh, tasty, and varied - shows care/attention! Same said for everything I've ever had here. Ground soybean stew ("kongbiji jjigae") is not easy to find, and the one here reminds me of my grandma Kind and welcoming ambiance. I am so grateful this place exists.
Great food & service. Very
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Korean Pancake, Seaweed Soup
Menu is in Korean so if you are willing to struggle with the menu and eat organ meats and blood sausage. This is your place. I had the blood sausage soup. The broth was rich and creamy from the bone marrow with a clean not animal like taste. Very comforting. The blood sausage was was clean tasting no animalness or mineral taste to it. It was actually mild. Less meaty like black pudding.If you are adventurous enough this is a superb and affordable meal.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
I like Ugeoji Galbitang, and I enjoy food with refreshing soup in the morning, but this place opens early in the morning and the Ugeoji Galbitang is so delicious that when I come to LA, I have Ugeoji Galbitang for breakfast.?
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
I really really wanted to like this place bc hole in the wall spots are my jam. I got the soondae soup and I found it to be very porky (not in a good way). I also got a combo soondae and while the soondae itself is ok, the rest of the organ meats were pretty tough. The banchan they give you is bombbb though and their kimchi is perfect for gookbap. I'm not sure if I'd come back for another go considering there are so many other great gookbap options in ktown :( Also I tried making soondae bokkkeum with the leftover soondae and it was still so porky that I gave up eating it halfway. I absolutely love soondae so this was a travesty for me :(