Everybody's all "oh my god oh my god I'm sick, I've had this cough for 3 weeks, no it's not a flu, it's a cold, and it won't go away!" Please, shut up a second. Jeesh. Take a page from our Korean friends! Drink this giant bowl of hot soup with these absolutely fresh, pure, perfect house-cut noodles, dotted with little soft bobbing floating dumpling balls. Put your face over the bowl! Breathe in the comforting steam. Look upon the generous portions of chicken sitting regally on top of all the noodles. Wait, eat this giant lump of kimchi! Pungent spicy perfect fermented deliciousness! Are you feeling better? You should be, by now, or at least you're well fed. Recommended for: Eternally sick people, noodle fiends, dumpling addicts (Parking's a little dicey in the back lot. Park on Olympic if you can.) read more

Everyone talks about their chicken soup and their gooksu but I actually came here just for their mandoo. It was just one of those afternoons when I came here with my mom to have mandoo and kimchi. I know people keep saying their kimchi is bomb and legit, but I honestly think they're just OK. I'd have to say that Nakwon House on Vermont and Olympic has better kimchi. I'll have to come back for noodles. Their menu isn't really that extensive, it's really short, so who knows? I'll bring my friends and we'll try the rest of the menu. =) read more

I told my friend I'd pick him up from his place and we'd go to dinner. I really didn't care what to eat that night. My mind already assumes if we eat in K-Town it automatically means eating Tofu hot pot or Korean BBQ... same routine. When I got him he told me where to go. It only took a hop, skip, and a jump from his house to get there. We parked in the back and walked through the back entrance. Pretty gangster and totally unassuming from the outside, but as we walked in I felt like I was swept into Asia without a passport. We both ordered the Chicken Kal gook soo, chicken noodle soup. Sounds simple but screams complex love and care. The waitress came out holding the hugest bowls. So big, you overkill clearing the table because you're afraid for their dear hands burning on those hot metal bowls.Then you realize... They are fire benders from the fire nation. The noodles were medium-sized and flat. Homemade from what we could see due to the varying thickness. The chicken also was very fresh and had different textures based on white vs dark meats. mmm variety. We also shared a huge order of Steamed Mandoo. Plumpy hot hots, packed with meat and chopped veggies. They gave a lot, so much I wasn't even trying to be polite with portion control. I knew we would get our fair share and then some. All in all, a great place. A very simple dish done right! We were so full when we left, instead of walking we just rolled out. How do you say "i'll be back." in Korean, with an Arnold Schwarzenegger accent? read more

The best kalgooksoo place. The portions are crazy generous. Their steamed mandoos are really good too. Thank u for staying in business!!!

Awesome kimchi - real pungent, strong stuff - the way it's supposed to be, and you get a lot of it, too, and you can cleanse your palate with some of that refreshingly cold sliced radish. You get a HUGE bowl of kalguksu, and it's real authentic - the noodles and the soup. I prefer the anchovy broth to the chicken because it packs more flavour, but both are good. Don't forget the steamed dumplings - they're great. You can dip them in little dishes with soy sauce, vinegar, and red chili pepper. Without a doubt, much love for Olympic Noodle when it comes to KTown kalguksu. Just so you don't look like an idiot like I did, walk in through the back from the parking lot. I tried to go in through the front facing Olympic, but the doors are always locked - they just unlocked it and let me in, but it drew a lot of attention from everyone inside -_- read more

Shhhhhhhh. Don't give it away to Yelp and Eater LA hysteria. A little goldmine. Incredible kimchi.

One of my favorite restaurants to eat a child hood memory home cooked style knife cut noodles. Don't remember there being such huge pieces of chicken in my childhood but this place gives a bowl big enough for two to share. I usually order the chicken knife cut noodles along with their steamed dumplings. Their radish and garlic kimchi that accompany the dish taste marvelous together. I would usually put the two together and take a bit at once. Soo delicious~~ definitely recommend coming here on a cold day. The ladies who work there are extremely nice and work hard to keep everyone fed and happy. read more

Three stars for poor service. Food was delicious though. Came here with my family. We walked in and were greeted and sat down. They didn't bring menus to us and we had to get them ourselves. Also waited a while for the server to come over. I'm certain it's because we weren't Korean, as it happened to another non-Korean table as well. Ordered the dumplings. SO GOOD. Also got the chicken noodles. Portion was HUGE, so I recommend sharing that. read more

My daughter is insisting that I write a review for Olympic Noodle. This is a stalwart for us as they make one of her favorite dishes, the chicken kalgooksoo. She's really picky and pretty much subsists on chicken and sugar. Well, get this... she pigs out on the kalgooksoo. Loves the stuff. I must say... the wife and I like it a lot too. The fresh noodle is great. The service is always great as the people are very warm. We've been going for years. When our daughter was only 3 or 4, she used to always say, "I want the onion restaurant! I want the onion restaurant!" She was referring to these plastic onions they've got near one of the walls. This place will always be special for our family. The sushi's not bad either. The Kalgooksoo is fantastic. Comfort food at its best. read more

I miss you! I miss your seafood kal-gook-soo. I miss your steamed mandoo. I miss your kim-bap. I miss your dduk-bok-ki. I used to live right around the corner from this place and would frequent it quite often. No MSG, handmade noodles, yummy kimchi...what more can you ask for? I'd say their dduk-bok-ki can stand to have a little more dduk in it but other than that, it's always a solid choice for lunch or dinner. read more

With the rain came some cold weather that left both my wife and I feeling a little bit under the weather. Since our mom's aren't around to whip something up for us, we decided to head over here for some kalguksu... It totally hit the spot. The bowls are HUGE! Usually Korean food ends up being on the pricey side, but this is more along the range of a bowl of pho. The noodles were definitely great. It was cooked al dente so had a nice chewy texture to it, and the soup was awesome too. A very casual restaurant feel whose owner apparently likes to garden a bit... Little bits of plants hanging around the ceilings, a wall of fake plants, and a good number of potted plants outside in the back entrance... Since they don't have a valet, and a lot that allows for double parking, expect the employees to call out different car makes and models out periodically, letting you know you have to move your car for a moment... While it wasn't a cure for how we felt last night, it did make us feel better for at least a little while... read more

Hands down one of my favorite restaurants! I crave this all the time regardless of the weather. I usually get the chicken kalgooksoo and the dumplings and like everyone said... you can just get one of each and share with another person because their portions are HUGE. What makes this place so damn delicious is that it tastes homemade. The broth is rich, the noodles are the perfect width and texture meaning it looks handcut and it has a wonderful chewiness to it. They are very generous with the chicken which is pulled/shredded by hand. On to the dumplings!!! Its steamed and its just piping hot goodness. The dumpling wrap is also a bit chewy which is a good thing and they don't skimp on the filling. This is a must try with the noodles! Now... last but not least... the kimchi is the best in ktown and amazing paired with the meal. But I will warn you that it is very VERY garlicy (which I love love love) and your breath will suffer for the next 5 hours or so. I noticed that they added some new dishes the last time I went and a few tables had the dukbokki (spicy rice cakes) and it came in a pan. With korean food, anything that comes served in a metal pan is most likely yummy. I made a mental note to go with more ppl so I can try that as well :) Honeslty, I can't say anything bad about this place because it's korean comfort food at its best. This is a must try and with this gloomy rainy weather we're having... it's the perfect time to fill your belly. *Note that this place CLOSES on Sunday even tho Yelp says its open 7 days a week! read more

It's a good place. Noodles are good, waitresses are friendly. The bowl is large...Everything is great read more

Olympic Noodle - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Been coming here since I was a kid. The kalgooksoo is the absolute best you can get probably on this continent. It's like the Korean version of Chicken Noodle Soup except with more noodle.. and the noodle is handmade. It's comfort food at it's best. The dumplings are amazing as well. read more

I finally tried this place. The house cut noodles were everything people told me- al dente, able to soak in the flavor without getting soggy and delicious. I had the #1 noodles w/ chicken and split an order of steamed dumplings. I know people said the portions were large and food was filling but I was a bit surprised. I skipped breakfast but was filled enough to take some noodles home and was too full to eat dinner. Definitely a good sign. BTW: My leftover noodles were still good the next day! I must also complement them on having nice service as well (because let's be honest service in Koreatown can be a crapshoot). I will likely try the fried dumplings and cold noodles the next time I go. read more

This my first time ever coming here period and I ordered take out. I got the beef noodle soup and dumplings. Tip #1 parking is in the back lol but it's okay I just walked around the back and found my way easily. Anyways for both dishes is $21.21. I thought it was pricey but when I got home and opened up my goodies there was so much food! So yes it was worth it. I'm half Mexican so I added some tajin to the broth and it was amazing! The dumplings are also pretty tasty and I personally love steamed cabbage so that Also being with my dumplings was a plus. Yes, there's a major language barrier but it's okay I'm used to it having a father from the Middle East. These ladies that give and take your order are so sweet! I asked for more kimchi all she said was small or large ? I said small she graciously gave it to me no extra cost. Def coming back!! read more

Came for the infamous chicken noodle soup. Meh. The noodles were really eggy and starchy and tasted uncooked. But the chicken broth and free crack kimchi made up for it. Service is poor. I came in and "seated myself," whereas a group of koreans came in, were quickly greeted and seated and offered a menu and drinks before me. And I came in 10 mins before them. My guess is being korean will get you superior service. Meh. read more

I love this noodle spot, it is so wholesome and hearty. The portion sizes are great! $9 for a bowl bigger than my face. I got the spicy chicken and kimchee noodles which were pretty spicy. My favorite part of the meal was the bowl of kimchee and radish they give you and especially the steamed dumplings. They give you a large portion (maybe 10 dumplings?) for $7 and they are steamed to perfection. The only thing is that the people who work there do not speak very much English, but the menu is fairly easy to navigate and understand. read more

Olympic Noodle - Chicken and kimchee noodle and dumplings - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Bland soup, but great noodle texture. I wish I could give this 3.5 stars since 3 stars is a little harsh, but unfortunately nothing stood out to me except for the great kimchi and giant portion size. I got the chicken kalgooksoo + sujebi. They gave a substantial amount of chicken which I really appreciated and the portions are HUGE! I'm a small girl with a big appetite and I finished about 3/4 of it. The sujebi was deliciously chewy but unfortunately the dish as a whole in general was underwhelming. The soup base wasn't creamy or flavorful enough for my taste - I had to add a lot of extra sauce to enhance its flavor and eat it with a lottttt of kimchi. Maybe I just came on a bad day - I'm willing to give it another chance! But thanks for the large amount of chicken. Atleast I got my protein in to balance out all those carbs. read more

AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS! The Chicken Noodle Soup that is. Since the weather has been a bit on the colder side lately, and I was craving something hot and soupy for dinner, I yelped "noodle soup" and found this place. Hands down, the chicken noodle soup is the best! We also tried the beef noodle soup and the pork dumplings. Beef was flavorful too, but the chicken was so much better. Dumplings were okay...I've had better, but then again I'm used to the Chinese style dumplings. Their kimchi was yummy too - not sour or too flavorful. The napa texture was just right for my taste. Will definitely come back - even if it takes pointing and showing the waiters the food pictures from here to get my order in - as they don't really speak English. That's what saved me last night when I tried to order the dumplings! Go yelpers! read more

I know you want me I made it obvious that I want you too So serve it to me Remove your hair net and let me come sit next to you Now stir in the noodle, aahh, aaaaaa Damn I like the way you cooked the soup So serve it to me Cause I already know I'm going to finish the soup Here's the situation I park behind the station Nobody's ever made chicken soup like the way that you do You know my motivation Been to every soup station Please excuse me but I don't want to be rude Tonight I'm ordering me a soup. Oh ~ you know Tonight I'm eating your soup Oh ~ you know Tonight I'm loving your soup http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UecPqm2Dbes Recaps: Slow cooked chicken broth, warm, comforting soup Kimchi was delicious Service was prompt Pricing was inexpensive. Will go back, especially when it's raining. "Oh it's gotta be good life, good life!" read more

Not as many pre meal plates but the spicy chicken noodle soup was tasty enough. And they offer huge portions! My to go bowl was filled to the brim. You can tell the noodles are homemade. Kim chee is on point! Note that it sits at the table and is self serve. Come in at 11:30 am before the lunch rush. Place fills up fast. 4 stars! read more

Olympic Noodle - Huge portions! Spicy chicken noodle soup. Pretty good - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This my favorite place, I visit it often. I decided to show it my brother on the holiday. We made a order chicken wings, spicy combination noodle soup. I like when lot of spices. I sure that my brother was happy and he will get back here again. read more

This is actually a pretty decently priced delicious noodle place. Your meal will be under $10, I promise, including tip, if you order one thing. The noodles are chewy and the soup is nicely flavored. This is probably one of the better Korean comfort food joints. I got the chicken noodle soup, which was #1 I believe! It came in a huge bowl (enough for 2 meals) and was filled with all things good. You can add green onion flavoring, along with hot sauce, to spice up your bowl. My party also ordered the steamed dumplings (which were okay, nothing really special) and the fried dumplings (which were the exact same ones as steamed but who can complain about anything fried). All in all, my meal was $12 for a 2 pieces of dumplings + my noodle soup. I would definitely come back here. Like other asian places, remember to bring cash because they probably won't let you split more than 2 cards! Bon Appetit! read more

Hands down best KalGookSoo and kimchi in Ktown!! I was on a KalGookSoo rampage having just experienced Myung Dong Kyoja's finest when I stumbled on to Olympic Noodle. Just a stone's throw from my apartment, I convinced myself I needed to get myself there (like NOW!) when I read all these great reviews on Yelp. PLEASE NOTE THAT PORTIONS HERE ARE HUGE-MON-GOUS... let's see... think a Korean version of Claim Jumper's portions. We ordered one regular KalGookSoo and one order of their famous dumplings and omg... so damn good. The people are right when they say they don't skimp out on the meat. My friend's only gripe was that the broth wasn't salty/flavorful enough but he made do with the vinegar and salt at the table. Seriously though, amazing noodles, kimchi, service, and price. If it's cold and you want something to not only warm but fill you up, get yourself here now.. and call me!! read more

Wow, talk about bang for your buck. I came here this past weekend for a quick dinner. No wait at 6 p.m. on a Saturday for my party of two - nice! We ordered the chicken noodle soup (X2) and one order of the steamed dumplings. The food came out quickly, with the dumplings first followed soon by the chicken noodle soup. The portions here are pretty massive. The dumplings could probably feed one person. And the noodles are gargantuan. I felt like I kept eating noodle after noodle after noodle. The broth is delicate and tastes like it's been brewing for several hours, and the soft green onions and cucumbers add a nice flavor, too. For $7.XX, this has gotta be one of the best deals in Koreatown if not Los Angeles! I wish I'd discovered it sooner. The dumplings were standard - I think I prefer dumplings at Cho Man Won more, but honestly, I'd come back for the soup. Now that I know how huge their portions are, I can forgo the dumplings quite easily. I'm still amazed we finished everything and even got to try some of their kimchi. Actually, speaking of their kimchi, I don't know what grandma's kimchi tastes like since my grandma doesn't make kimchi, but it was good. I did feel like the flavor were a bit too strong for me - I usually prefer more subtle flavors (hence when the daikon banchan was one of my favorites - light, airy, crunchy and a bit sweet). But again, who am I to judge? Bottom lines: As the weather gets a bit chillier, keep Olympic Noodle in mind to satisfy your warmth needs. It's cheap and you will definitely be full (please see a doctor who specializes in parasites if you don't feel full). Watch out for parking because (as far as I know) they don't have a lot. read more

Came here last Friday after hearing from a couple people that this is the best spot for kkal gook soo. I was skeptical at first because Ma Dang Gook Soo is my all time favorite place for kkal gook soo, but I was pretty impressed with this place as well. I think i prefer Ma Dang Gook Soo chicken kkal gook soo over Olympic - their noodles just taste more homemade, but Olympic's steamed dumplings are definitely a winner :) read more

This is the first time I ever experience this type of Korean food besides kim chi. The portions are huge. One bowl could feed 4 people. On the receipt: dumplings=very good but 12 for 2 people is just outrageous chicken noodle soup=very bland. kind of like chicken noodle soup with udon style noodles Kim chi was very spicy and delicious. Overall, a very cheap and filling meal but nothing that was worth going out of the way for. read more

My cousin told me about this place. She swore they had the best kalgooksoo so I took my fatty pants to check it out. :) Between me and my bf, we can make AYCE places go broke. I been asked how many stomachs I have, because I can eat and eat and eat; long after I have been full.. LOL Anyhow, back to my review.. When the reviewers say that the chicken noodle soup is huge, believe them. I took others advice and asked the lady to split the soup into two and ordered a plate of dumplings. I always forget if i like it steamed or fried, so I have to ask the lady.. and she tells me which one is better.. I like her.. she reminds me of my mom.. hahah.. she's pretty like my mommy and last time, she told me to wear a sweater cuz it's cold and i was wearing a tank top. hahhahah. When the food came out, they brought out two bowls of soup and a plate of really good dumplings. The broth was very good, but I like Myung Dong Kyoja's soup better.. Myung dong's is saltier.. I like salty.. I added the spicy sauce to my soup and it was really good.. nice big pieces of chicken. When we saw our bowls, we figured they wrote the orders in wrong and placed 2 orders for us.. *shrug* I'm a huge fan of dumplings.. My mom was making dumplings for Lunar New Year when she started her contractions with me.. hehehe. She said the whole time she was in labor, all she could think about was eating dumplings.. Enough random facts about me.. Thinking about it, I order the steamed dumplings.. It's really good here. I like to dip them into my dipping sauce concoction of soy sauce, vinegar, chili powder, and the spicy sauce.. yum yum. :) After our dinner, the bill came out to $15.. we were so confused.. they did get our order right.. just that the soup really was as huge as everyone said it was... wow! read more

Hidden gem - delicious kalgooksoo. But don't go around telling everybody... I don't like waiting in lines... Pros: Big portions. Promptness. Cons: Big portions. read more

Olympic Noodle never disappoints... Chicken Kal gook soo - 5/5 Man doo - 5/5 Big portions, cheap prices, good hearty food. Kimchi is bomb, I wish I could buy a big jar of it and take it home :P read more

Probably one of the only places that serves really tasty Korean noodle soup and homemade dumplings. I just love the homey taste of the soup broth and the meat filling for the dumplings is so flavorful without being greasy. There are 3 types of dumplings, the pan-fried, boiled, and steamed. They are all pretty good, though my favorite is definitely the pan-fried and boiled. Sometimes the steamed ones are under steamed so the skin becomes dry. However, it's happened only twice. I agree with previous reviewers that for 2 people, 1 bowl of noodle soup and 1 order of dumplings will be enough. Priced at under $20 for 2, it's definitely a great meal. Oh and you can't forget how wonderful the fresh kimchi is. Definitely one of the best I've had. For homemade noodle soup and dumplings, this place is definitely it. I've yet to find another place to beat this one. read more

Next time I'm sick and in need of chicken soup or when it's cold and I need some warm soup, I am coming back to Olympic Noodle. The prices are very reasonable, the food was delicious, the portion size large, and the service was fine. A great place for kalgooksoo. The noodles are apparently hand-cut (and delicious) and the soup itself was good. The broth is thin, but it packs enough flavor given that there's basically a whole chicken in your bowl. The chicken was tender. It was filling without being over-powering. A bowl of soup could easily serve two. We ordered the steamed dumpling on the side. Good stuff. Would definitely recommend them. The kimchee was excellent. Some of the best I've had in LA. read more

I've been here twice now and although it's a bit of a drive, I do in fact find myself craving it... which is why I'm going with the full 5 star rating! The incredible house recipe kimchi is the best I've had in this city. There is a bowl of it set on every table, and between 4 people you might find yourself asking for more of it. We surely did. Do yourself a favor and order the steamed dumplings. I want to say there were 12 of them, maybe more. Only two of you? Please you're going to finish it. They don't skimp on the filling so they are nice and fat! To get a sense of the soup portions, each bowl can easily feed 2 people. The amount of chicken they throw in there is ridiculous but I'm not complaining. You add the spices, vinegar, and scallion mixture to your liking and have a great hearty meal. I would also recommend ordering the spicy rice cakes. They are Korean style which means the long tube shape and heavily sauced. Love in the tum. read more

You're going to have a hard time finding a better value than this little hole in the wall Korean joint. It was in the 80s the day I went here and the windows were still fogged up from the room filled with metal bowls of steaming hot savory noodle soup. When you sit down you're offered what appears to be a bucket of kim chi. It's fantastic, spicy, tart and seemingly never ending. We started with the steamed dumplings which are reason enough to come here. They came on a platter of what had to be at least a dozen and were delicate little bundles of awesome. I opted for the chicken noodle for my mean and was not quite prepared for what I received. First thing I noticed was the bowl. It was metal, enormous and HOT. Second is the massive amount of chicken that it contained. There must have been at least an entire chicken in there. The broth comes out a little bland to start, but it is served with various sauces that when added transform the simple soup into something wonderful. I ate until I could eat no more and still got an additional 2 meals out of my leftovers. read more

My favorite kalgooksoo spot! It's got great kal gooksoo, but the secret is their kimchee! IMHO, it's the best kimchee in Ktown. They always give huge portions of noodles and chicken and you can always ask for more kimchee. read more

I don't know, Kalguksoo is kalguksoo, it's the same I honestly can not tell the difference, it was just kalguksoo. The kimchi was really good though, the stone bowl it came in was almost empty by the time I got there. I have nothing against kalguksoo it's just that I find nothing incredible about it or nothing bad about either it's kind of like a McDonald's hamburger that way. read more

I've been going to this place since I was old enough to drive. The chicken kalgooksoo and the ddokbogee are the best! My fav reason for coming is the kimchi. I absolutely can't stand overly fermented, soft n sour kimchi. Save it for my parents! The kimchi for those of you who've never been here is fermented, but not overly fermented. So its nice and crunchy to the bite, a little sweeter than sour, served in a clay pot on your table....mmmmm! Though I've never been a fan of steamed dumplings for whatever reason, I know many people come here and must order them. Since moving farther east, I have admittedly not gone regularly since about 2009. So I'm gonna hit it again this weekend and take a friend so she can try Korean style noodles Oh, and unless their parking situation changed, the big knock I have is parking. Their lot is on the small side. So get there early. read more

The chicken soup with hand pulled noodles here is generously-portioned and is best described as comfort in a bowl. DELISH! As was suggested in an earlier review, an order of chicken noodles paired with an order of steamed dumplings is plenty of food for two. The place also serves up complementary kimchi. Their's is fresh with a crunch. Just the way I like it. Neighborhood isn't so hot, but if you mosey on back, you'll see that there's parking behind the joint. I'll be back! read more

I've been dying to try this place, I love noodles. Went once on a Sunday and it was closed...FAIL!! Parking is behind the building entrance off of Norton. We got there at 6:30pm and it was pretty empty. STEAMED DUMPLINGS: I thought they were tasty. They are heavy on the greens, but I liked that. They have the sauces and such at each table for your dipping sauce. CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP: You can tell they make their own noodles. They were consistent but not perfect. Noodles were slick but chewy to the tooth. The soup has a deep flavor but without being heavy. I thought some of the chicken was a little dry. I think they store it separately. ANCHOVY DUMPLING SOUP: I liked this soup base more. Definitely appears they cook the noodles/dumplings in separate water so the soup base is not murky and there is not excess flour in the broth. Portions were huge, you'll end up eating more just because it's tasty. People were sharing, just ask for an extra bowl and ladle. The best part of this place is the kimchi. They give you a little jug of it and you serve the table some as needed. It was super garlicy and fresh (this is the kind that has not been fermented long). The place was packed before we left. Which means service was slower. But, it was still reasonable. read more