Mountain Cafe

During the colder months of the year, Koreatown residents flock to this no-frills restaurant for warming bowls of abalone rice porridge and samyetang—a traditional aromatic chicken soup made with ginseng, garlic and whole bright jujubes. Both are also excellent for takeout and delivery whenever you’re under the weather, and Mountain Cafe’s other cozy, homestyle porridges, soups and stews make it one of the best destinations in L.A. for soup as a whole. The family behind Mountain Cafe also runs nearby Mountain Noodles, where unbelievably flavorful, fragrant broths and generous portions of brisket and seafood make their way into noodle bowls.