Mountain Noodles

The sister of Koreatown’s Mountain Cafe (a local favorite for abalone rice porridge and samgyetang), this casual noodle soup specialist at Brown Derby Plaza's far end is more than worth going out of your way for. Unbelievably flavorful, fragrant broths and generous portions of brisket and seafood make up their signature noodle soups—the best soup we've sipped in a long, long while. Other popular items include the family-style hot pots, seafood pancakes and black bean noodles, though steaming bowls of their namesake signature broth are the primary reason to pay Mountain Noodles a visit. Note: While the family behind Mountain Cafe has actually been in business since 1974, this no-frills eatery only recently relocated from Buena Park to Koreatown—and the city proper is richer for it.