Olympic Noodle continued to fill my need for a home cooked meal; even though I am not Korean! To start with, Sara, and her other serving partner receive us in a friendly kind manner, starting the home feeling right as we walk in. Sara's smile and welcoming demeanor is just the start of an ever sweet experience at this establishment. We have been trying various items on the menu, and my friends and I really like the Seafood Pancake, the Cabbage Beef Soup, as well as the various noodle soups, especially when served with both noodles and cut dough. The Seafood Pancake is the best pancake I had in any Korean restaurant. Well cooked to a flavorful crisp, and with a good mix of veggies and seafood. We add one of the green condiments offered on the table, and the taste is fantastic. THe Cabbage Beef soup includes some tender very well cooked short rib beef, some of it on the bone. Working around the bone provides a real good beef flavor. And the cabbage in this item is plentiful for those of us who care about "eating our veggies". I just had a wonderful meal yesterday at this favorite Korean restaurant, and I felt compelled to update my previous review. Especially because the owner sister, Candy, was there, and gave us wonderful friendly service. Almost all the customers there are Korean. I feel good being with them all !! read more

Bruh that was amazing . Got the chicken kimchi one, the flavor was next level. Amazing sides. This place is better and more authentic than most of the hyped up kalguksu spots here in Ktown. The three ladies working are the sweetest people I've ever met. I almost cried cuz I miss my mom fr but yeah 10/10 for me brothers and sisters read more

Olympic Noodle - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Olympic Noodle is a classic and a favorite of mine. The restaurant is almost always filled with elderly people-which proves it's authenticity. For me the atmosphere and the food is very nostalgic so I tend to find myself here quite often. I think I enjoyed every single item I have tried here, especially the Chicken Knife-Cut Noodle Soup and the Sujebi. My boyfriend always gets the Pat Jook (Red Bean Porridge). We also always order the Steamed Dumplings. The noodles, sujebi, and dumplings are all handmade with HUGE portion sizes which gives me a warm feeling and reminds me of my grandma's food(iykyk). I never want this restaurant to close so I am writing this review. I know it won't close anytime soon, but if you ever want to feel what true Korean soul food is like, go visit Olympic Noodle! read more

Olympic Noodle - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I'll be a bit generous with a 4 star, although I think it's more of a 3 or 3.5 stars. The reality is that these OG korean places need our support, but it's just hard times on them, and hard times for customers. A few observations by me. 1. Some of the reviews said that the kalguksu dishes were large enough to share between 2 people, but theyre a bit too small for that. I initially asked if a kalguksu could be split into 2 small dishes, before changing my mind, and I would have felt silly if I went ahead with splitting it. 2. Nothing too memorable about kalguksu dishes. Seafood had one shrimp, a couple of small mussels, and a bunch of tiny claims. Broth was nice, but not amazingly memorable. I feel for the mom and pops like this, but for cheapskates like me, this experience would lead me to dine out even less, not more. 3. The kimchee (actually, its 겉절이, which is not long fermented kimchee, but just a quickly prepared side dish. Still it is fresh and tasty) and sweet radish side dish were a nice touch. 4. Kind of a quiet a​tmosphere around 4pm on a Saturday. A group of 6, and 2 other couples cleared out and it was just us for most of our meal. A few ​take out orders along the way. I hit the period between lunch and dinner, but I hope the sparse crowd is atypical. 5. We wanted to try the barley yoolmu rice dish for a change of pace to share, but they were out. I imagine they didn't have the barley on the spot. I would have loved to comment on a different dish, but we only tried kalguksu. read more

Delicious food, great service, & I will definitely come back again with my family. Also plenty of parking which made the experience more enjoyable. read more

The best noodles chicken soup in LA. Also homemade dumplings are amazing. Staff is so nice. read more

Olympic Noodle - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Home made noodles and dumplings from scratch!!!! It's a fantastic family business ... few simple quaint... interior... good service ... I recommend the Beef Noodle Soup my favorite and the dumplings Rock... clean healthy and delicious! read more

It's a little HOLE in the wall type of Korean style noodle house! The amount of food you get is SO worth your money! The broths for their noodles realllllly are triggering your senses - umami! I hope you give it a chance! read more

I came here for kongguksu. It is summer, and thus the season for kongguksu or naengmyun. The broth was nutty, but clean and refreshing. I added salt to my liking. The kimchi adds spice. The noodles were nothing special, but they were cooked well and had great texture (super important for this dish). What I really liked was the atmosphere. It reminded me of eating at a family members house, from the decor, to the smell, to the people. Homey is the word. We also got the yukaejang which tasted like a home made version- not very salty, lots of veggies, not much meat, but comforting. 5/5 stars for flavors and nostalgia read more

Specialty: Dak kal gook soo (sliced noodle soup with chicken) I first learned about Olympic Noodle from one of Jonathan Gold's articles (https://www.laweekly.com/jonathan-golds-60-korean-dishes-every-angeleno-should-know/) and I never had a chance to visit here because the restaurant always closes on Sunday. Few weeks ago I was about to drive back home from The Original Farmers Market and I stopped by Koreatown for a quick dinner. There's a parking lot behind the restaurant, but one of the cars blocked the parking entrance so I ultimately just parked on the street. Service was pretty average and each table was served with pickled daikon and a giant stone pot of kimchi. I am a big fan of their sweet and savory kimchi and their pickled daikon was pretty good too (not super vinegary). Menu: There are 12 different noodle options, but their signature item is #1 Korean chicken noodle soup. I also ordered steamed dumplings because it was one of the Yelp's highlights. *** #1 Korean Chicken Noodle Soup ($12.80): Noodle had somewhat of a firm texture and chicken pieces were not super tender, but broth was very savory and portion was generous! #27 Steamed Dumplings (12 pieces - $10.99): Dumplings were not super juicy, but each dumpling was jammed pack with pork and chives fillings and flavors were on the point. *** I still think chicken noodle soup from Hangari Bajirak Kalguksu is a bit better, but I would totally visit Olympic Noodle for the following reasons: (1) no waiting line, (2) easy parking, (3) yummy kimchi, and (3) solid noodle soup & dumplings with generous portion sizes. read more

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This is Korean kalguksu done proper. We come here every time we visit LA. Always a hangout for locals, and the red bean noodles are the best I've eaten stateside. 끝내주게 맛 있어요! read more

Excellent kimchi. We come here for the staples: red bean porridge, anchovy noodle soup, and the rice cake/dumpling beef broth soup.

If you like home cooked meal taste this is the place to try their chicken soup with hand made noodles. The serving is $17 and for me it's good for 2 people. Comes with kimchi and radish which also tastes home made. read more

Love the noodle soups and the freshly made steamed dumplings. Kimchi and radish sides are also soooooo delicious. Have been eating here for over 20 years. read more

Ordered the steams mandoo, sujebi, galbi radish tip soup, and mixed chewy noodles. Everything including the simple side dishes of fresh kimchi and pickled radish had semblances of my grandmother's cooking - comforting, unrefined and filled with the kind of love that comes from a lifetime of care and sacrifice. Truly a wonderful find in the urban jungle of Koreatown LA. The sujebi and galbi stew is a must. The rest is recommended but if you are not a large party, you can pass on those. Don't let the rundown and worn exterior and decor deter you. This is down home authentic Korean food. Check it out!!! read more

Olympic Noodle - Galbu Radish Tip Soup - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Historically good. This place has become a bit of a landmark in Koreatown. A place that an old resident can refer to, asking it "its still there" and yes, yes it is. They specialize in a specific kind of noodle soup - knife cut, or 'kalguksoo' It's one of the best in town, if not THE best. Their steamed dumplings are also on point. Service is warm and comfortable. The veteran staff know how to treat you like family. Maybe a little 'unprofessional' by fine dining standards, but perfect for the type of food, location, and vibe of the restaurant. read more

This is my childhood favorite place my family is a regular at. Their chicken knife cut noodle (the irregular sized noodles are everything and the broth is so rich) is my favorite along with the sweet pumpkin porridge (love the large rice cake balls and red beans!). My mom loves their red bean noodle with salt and I love to put sugar when I share it with her. I personally ask for any brothy soups to be less seasoned (with salt) and they happily oblige. And their portions are huge! We also always get the steamed dumplings. They're so kind and they still remember me from when I was a little girl and I'm so happy to give them as much business as possible. The taste and quality hasn't changed at all. The unfermented kimchi and pickled radish are so so good as usual. They added some new items to their menu so I'm so excited to try them next time since I'll be back for sure. It's nice to see they're doing well. The place interior is updated with new light fixtures and traditional handwritten menu signs. But the wood paneling is the same and so comforting. They have their own parking lot too and you can easily find anyone who is double parked so it's very convenient. read more

I didn't have any food but their hospitality is amazing. I really had to use the restroom and I went in ready to offer them $5 and they wouldn't take it. I bought a soda just to be able to leave them a tip. read more

Lemme tell you. I've been coming here since the early 90s. The place has gone through one ownership change in early 2000s. Their chicken kalgooksu(handcut noodle soup) is one of those rare gems you find only find in a mom and pop type of shop. Their broth is very thick and flavorful. Not too garlicky and not too chickeny but just hearty soup topped with tons of chicken meat and zucchini. You have to add the special green onion soup sauce or red pepper soy sauce to your liking and it's just a the best chicken noodle soup. To those who say they changed...I can tell you the flavor is still pretty darn close to how it was back in the day. One thing that I noticed that was different was that noodles may be cut by a machine rather than by hand. I still believe the dough is hand kneaded. Portions are still huge. It is big enough for 2 servings so if you think it's little,you better check yourself and see if you're prone to overeating. Point of reference: compare to a size of a typical Japanese ramen, this chicken noodle soup is at least 2x the size. Price is now about $14 for a bowl which is lot more than before but considering how much wages have steeply gone up, it's understandable. And for the price, you still get a huge portion. Back when in dining was allowed, they would give you refill on the noodles if you asked. Their gutjuhri(freshly made kimchi, not yet fermented) is something special. It complements the soup so well. You won't be able to kiss anybody for days but damn it's so good! I made small talk with them when I went into pickup the food. Of course, they were struggling due to coronavirus effect but they were still very friendly and in good spirits. Wish them the best and hope they get out of this unscathed. I may be somewhat biased but this is a special place for me and my family. Pro tip: if ordering for 2 people, order one noodles and a mandoo(Korean dumplings) it's so friggin good and good portion to share with your s.o. read more

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I've been coming here for 7 years now It's my favorite place to go Everything in The menu is absolutely delicious I love the two wonderful eemos who are always so attentive and sweet Thank you this place is my favorite noodle place read more

Cozy, no-frills place with delicious home style Korean comfort food. Came here with my boyfriend and we split a bowl of handcut noodles and an order of pan fried dumplings. The noodles come in a huge bowl with large portions- a delicious broth perfect for a cold day. They are perfectly chewy, and the mandoo were crispy and yummy. Recommend to anyone who wants a home style comfort meal in a nice mom and pop shop! read more

Olympic Noodle - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The portion sizes are crazy huge. One bowl is more than enough for 2 people to share. The noodles came out pretty quick, but they didn't bring out the dumplings until we were almost done eating. By then we were so full, could barely enjoy them. read more

Olympic Noodle - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Lovely, lovely, lovely! I've driven by this spot several, countless times without ever noticing it and today was the day. I was already looking to get noodles and heading closer to wilshire center but i am SO glad i didn't. Forget the fuss and parking problem of going to the busier parts of ktown. This place even has it's own free parking lot. You can literally smell the delicious food from the parking lot. I had the steamed dumplings and the beef noodle soup. Mind you, I'm not a soup person but i decided i was going to try one here. Oh. Em. Gee. Noodles are nice and thick, the broth has so much depth to it and it's honestly insanely big. Bring a huge appetite or share it! Dumplings were served on a steamer with cabbage at the bottom. So full of flavor! This place is unbelievable. 100000/10! read more

Olympic Noodle - Beef noodle soup, steamed dumplings, complementary kimchi and pickled yukon - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Very good noodle joint. I received a large serving, which took me about an hour to finish half of it. I came in because I wasn't feeling too well and knew that noodle soup would lift my spirits and clear up my sinuses. This scrumptious meal definitely hit the spot and helped treat my symptoms. I was able to park on the street and didn't mind the brief walk. I absolutely recommend this restaurant mainly because of the generous portions they gave. The tea was nice and soothing for a rainy day. I was able to take the rest of the meal with me and eating it at home totally made me want to go back. This nice spacious area was filled with respectful customers and a staff who was very helpful throughout the course of the meal. I am glad this place popped up on Yelp when I needed it. read more

Olympic Noodle - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Their chicken noodle soup is excellent - so soothing, filling and savory. Absolutely loved the broth. Definitely coming back here!

Olympic Noodle has been a favorite of my family for 10+ years! We've tried a number of Korean noodle places in Korea town (Los Angeles) and some in NYC, but nothing comes close to the rich, bold taste of the soup base and sauce made in Olympic Noodle. The noodles are never over cooked and the dumplings are made with thin wrapper of perfect consistency with delicious filling. Tge Kimchee is always just the right amount of spicy level and always with perfect napa cabbage quality. The ladies who work here are all very dedicated and friendly. A great place to have a great Korean meal! read more

Olympic Noodle - Steamed Dumplings, Bibim Guk Su, kimchee - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I can always tell when a place is authentic by the patrons....what a special gem I stumbled upon while running errands in the area! Don't worry if you don't speak Korean, everyone is friendly and does their best to understand (so please do the same for them!). The dumplings were perfect and even better once I made up my own concoction/sauce with the ingredients provided on the table. The kimchi is honestly next level, I couldn't stop eating it lol. I thought it was strange that the hot tea wasn't stored in something other than a plastic pitcher, but either way, it was delicious (wasn't able to get the type/name of tea, but it tasted like corn silk tea(?))...will be back to try other things! read more

Olympic Noodle - Steamed dumplings - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Everything in the menu are they made even noodles and mandoos which are Korean dumplings. Also they red bean porridges are my wife's favorite. Their service is not like formal dining western style but they are generous in quality and quantity. Unique experience in Korea town. I strongly recommend this place. read more

I had the Korean Hand Torn Dough w/ Noodle Soup (Soojaebi w/ Kalgooksu). Unbelievable rich flavor in the broth, deep and strongly peppery. The Soojaebi and Kalgooksu are as handmade and authentic as it gets. The kimchi combines perfectly, it is complex in flavor without veering into strange funk territory. My poor words cannot describe how good this is. Similarly goes for the Yookgaejang which I had a taste of as well. read more

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Better than Hangari! Their portions much more generous and prices cheaper. Did I mention they have free self parking behind the restaurant for dinner? Spicy chicken hand cut noodle soup and beef hand cut noodle soup - each was enough to feed us three meals each. The amount of chicken they served - at least a quartered chicken worth of meats! Loved that they automatically just give u a bucket of their bomb kimchi - less effort for them and me. Overall - It may be beyond the outer skirt of ktown but definitely worth a visit! read more

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Amazing Korean noodle soup with the best noodle texture Ii've ever had! they're bouncy and chewy with the perfect amount of give, and they soak up the chicken flavor so well. the kimchi is also sooo good here and is actually flavored and salted really well, not just spicy. the servers have to be flagged down if you want refills of tea/water once you get your food, but it's so busy during lunchtime i understand the wait! read more

There are times when I miss my mom's cooking and when I can't go home for some Korean comfort food, I come to Olympic noodle, especially on a cold/rainy day. As you walk in, it's totally an old school Korean restaurant run by a Korean mom or grandma. It has a homey feel. It's nice that there are still Korean spots like these with all the changes going around K-town. 1) Chicken & Kimchi Kalguksoo - A very hearty flavorful soup that'll help you recover from a hangover or a cold. The noodles are thicker which I liked. The portion is HUGE! It's definitely worth the price. 2) Mandoo - it's so good! It tastes like they were freshly made in the back and there's a complete difference in taste from store-bought ones. You might see some of the staff even making them in the corner. 3) Kimchi - it's free and it's probably one of the best kimchis I had at a Korean restaurant. Parking: Free lot in the back if there's no valet. read more

See why all the reviews are good for this place. Loved the chicken noodle soup...really good! Disappointed by only two side dishes...my usual spot in Ktown loads you up with 5 different sides when you order soup...like this place, but still sticking with my Western Doma Noodle that I have been going too for over 25years now...nice for a back up. read more

Olympic Noodle - See why all the reviews are good for this place.... - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

A piece from a metal scrub in my food and not a word of apology. I should have known entering the restaurant since it reeked of peroxide upon entering. I am sorry to leave a negative review but I was appalled at how they handled their mistake. read more

The food is so fresh. The Kim chi tastes like it's made in house by someone's grandma. The price is good. Seriously healthy wholesome and spicy. read more

Such an OG ktown restaurant! This place has been around forever, and I've been going since I was a kid. It's taken me over a decade to write a review but finally getting around to it. This is such delicious home comfort food that I crave whenever I'm sick. The noodles and soup are consistently amazing and you definitely get more than what you paid for. The decor and service isn't anything impressive but to get legit comfort food, this is one of my go tos. read more

Tried Olympic Noodle back in 2012 during a work lunch and was amazed by its authenticity. Happy to say that it's still around today and the quality is still as amazing as it was as the first time. I usually get the #1: chicken noodle soup since I'm not a super adventurous eater. The best part of the dish is the handmade noodles, the texture is amazing. Definitely the best chicken noodle soup in town! read more

I should have reviewed this place sooner because it's really in my top-5 list of restaurants in Koreatown. The food here is Korean comfort food served in a hole-in-the-wall restaurant that has been here since at least the early 1990s. I remember because I ran into Chan Ho Park here a couple times during his first stint as a Dodger. Anyways, I digress... Olympic Noodle is located on the outskirts of Koreatown just two blocks east of Crenshaw Boulevard along the southern side of Olympic Boulevard. It's located in an old commercial building that it shares with Dupons Cleaners and Laundry. Parking is located in the rear with access to the parking lot via Norton Avenue. The interior of the restaurant looks like a mix between a traditional Korean restaurant and a rainforest because for some reason they have all sorts of artificial trees and nature based décor. But who cares about decorations, because in the end, it's about the food. While Olympic Noodle has an array of items on their menu from dumplings to California rolls, to put it bluntly, just order their "sliced noodle soup with chicken", which is item #1 on their menu. I mean, there is a reason it's listed as the first item and of course what's in a name right? Otherwise, they would be known as Olympic Dumpling. In Korean "sliced noodle soup with chicken" is referred to as "dak kalguksu" and literally means chicken with knife-cut noodles. You can tell that the noodles are made fresh everyday and hand-cut because the noodles are uneven, which simply adds to the rustic nature of their food. The chicken noodle soup consists of generous portions of tender chicken, generous portions of hand-made noodles and generous portions of fresh zucchini. In fact, the portions are more than generous - they are huge, gigantic, gargantuan! I honestly think the entire meal is at least a gallon of food. Aside from the titanic size, it tastes fucking awesome. You can really taste the "chickenness" of the broth, which is obviously a result of hours of slow-cooking. Definitely no shortcuts here and definitely no chicken stock and no bouillon cubes added. This place puts Campbell to shame. And like any really good authentic Korean restaurant, the kimchi here is fantastic. Speaking of kimchi, that's all they have to offer here for side dishes: cabbage kimchi and sliced non-spicy radish kimchi. Their lack of side dishes is a simple testament to the fact that their food really doesn't need anything else because it just tastes darned good. I really don't know anywhere else where you can get a humongous bowl of chicken noodle soup that tastes home-made, albeit with a Korean twist, that also tastes great and is this affordable ($7.29). read more

What We Ordered - Chicken kalgooksoo - Steamed Dumplings Chicken kalgooksoo with a big pot of kimchi on the side and steamed dumplings! A meal fit for 2! I either didn't have high exceptions or was just really hungry.. but, I really enjoyed the meal! I can't say much for my friend... she didn't eat much lol. Handmade noodles and plentiful chicken in a simple broth! The dumplings were super plump with a good meat ratio. Don't mind the run down look and small parking lot. This hole in the wall is a true gem. I will be back. :) read more

Olympic Noodle - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

ELITE KALGUKSU AND MANDUS! The best I've had. Kalguksu is a Korean noodle soup that has handmade noodles which are knife-cut, and mandus are Korean steamed dumplings. My friend introduced me to Olympic Noodle because he's crazy about it, so I had to give it a try. Parking is in the back but there's also plenty of street parking as well. The first time I came here, there were at least 10 Korean ladies in a circle hanging out, and all the guests were Korean so you know its legit and that you're about to have an amazing meal. Their kimchi here is a cut above the rest as well. It's a nice fermented and anchovy-like flavor, cold, juicy, and crunchy. I usually never rave about kimchi but I can eat a tub of this stuff. I usually get the beef kalguksu and steamed mandus. Come hungry because their portions are HUGE and enough to feed 2 people. The noodle soup itself is very soothing, flavorful, and clean - perfect if you're sick or on a cloudy day. It will bring you back to life. The beef is delicious as well and the cucumbers add a nice touch to the texture. The broth itself is slightly thick but that's what make this bowl so good. It's for the soul. The dumplings are next level. They're thinly wrapped and packed with tons of filling and flavor! I believe they're pork and have onions and other goodness in them. Make sure you dip them in soy sauce and vinegar before popping them in your mouth. If you haven't tried Korean kalguksu before, give this place a try next time your craving noodle soup. read more

Olympic Noodle - Beef kalguksu - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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