Bernard Yi
Google
TL;DR: Tucked away just blocks from the heart of K-town, this cozy, unassuming spot delivers with heaping portions of its hearty yet elevated Korean comfort food.
We walked in on a Saturday afternoon right before the dinner rush quickly took up every table. There's no fuss or frills, with noodles being served in massive, gleaming stainless steel bowls on plastic trays, a sight that will surely transport Koreans back to younger years in Korea.
We ordered the seafood pajeon (Korean pancakes), boneless chicken bites, Icy Spicy noodles and Cowboy ramen to share. The Icy Spicy noodles were note perfect for a humid summer night, sweet, tangy and spicy (shout out to the extra care put in to pre-cut the noodles) in a refreshingly icy broth. The Cowboy ramen, piled high with a generous portion of Korean BBQ kalbi (short ribs) and topped with a slice of pepper jack cheese and an egg fried over easy, was a rich, indulgent and comforting experience unlike any other ramen I've had in the city.
All this to say, in a city where Korean noodles are now being charged $30+ and have become so avant garde that they bear little resemblance to the $2.50 snacks I used to get after school in Seoul, Noona Noodles stands out by nailing the familiar while still innovating to create exciting dishes. We will be back for more!