SORIMMARA Ktown (소림마라엘에이)

(EDIT in response to the owner: When I say that the management in charge of this restaurant doesn't care about its customers, this is exactly what I mean. Even though I clearly stated in this review that I had to pay for food that I simply could not eat and had to discard, I was offered no monetary compensation or even simply credit for a future visit. Instead, I was given the most PR-sounding, performative reply that gives me nothing of value.) Had a disappointing experience with management who doesn't seem to understand the gravity of dietary restrictions/allergens/etc. I can't eat fish, and they accidentally mislabeled their fish tofu with their fried tofu. I was unknowingly eating fish the whole time. Management's response? A measly 10% discount. I get that mistakes happen. I am not faulting the staff that worked that day. In fact, the cashier that I spoke to was extremely professional, kind, and understanding. When I mentioned to the cashier that the "tofu" tasted suspiciously like fish, they tasted it and admitted that it was fish tofu. They immediately called somebody on the phone, who I assume to be the manager. I understand Korean, so I could tell that the cashier communicated my issue very clearly. But the manager on the other side of phone simply said to give me a 10% discount. Alrighty then. I'm stuck with a dish full of food I can't eat, and in exchange I get a few bucks off my bill. Thank you to the immediate staff for handling my case with such professionalism and grace. But to the manager on the other side of the phone, you came off as stingy and unsympathetic. Please rethink how serious dietary restrictions are and consider how a customer might feel when all you give is a 10% discount for food they can't even finish eating. As for the food itself though, we got the mala with tomato xiang guo base. You fill up a bowl with whatever ingredients you want, and they cook it for you in the back. The base tastes very similar to jarred tomato pasta sauce. I personally enjoyed it. Think of it as marinara pasta, but with the ingredients of your choice. You can choose a spiciness level between 1-5. We got 2. It's not very spicy at first, but it adds up as you go on. If you're sensitive to spice, I'd definitely suggest going with the lowest level. They also have a condiment bar where you can gourge yourself with toppings like chopped peanuts, jalapenos, raw minced garlic, dried minced garlic, spring onions, soy sauce, sesame oil, numbing sauce, chili paste, chili oil, oyster sauce, and so much more! They blast k-pop and the energy in there is pretty fun, but still toned down and not overwhelming. In all my visits, the staff here have been really nice and chill! They're located in a plaza that's pretty active even at night with the bustling Koreatown energy. There are plenty of dessert/boba shops within walking distance. As many other people here have said, the price can be a little hefty. Also, you won't know the price until you go to pay and weigh it on the scale. So you might be surprised by the cost. Overall, it's a fun and lively restaurant with good food. It's a shame that our experience with management was so disappointing. A few dollars as compensation for food we can't finish is insulting.

This review is based on Rose Mara Xiang Guo. I tried mara once and didn't enjoy it, but I decided to give this place a shot for lunch with a friend today. Feeling hesitant to order the original mara, we opted for Rose Mara Xiang Guo instead. Did we like it? Unfortunately, no. The rose sauce was overly creamy and salty. We spent around $50, and it just didn't feel worth it. We also tried the Pork Guobaorou, which was better than the Rose Mara Xiang Guo, but the sauce was too sweet. I ended up dipping it into a soy sauce I had made for the mara. We had hoped for a better experience, but we realized mara just isn't for us. Spent over $80 for these two items...

I have never had K-Malatang before, but this was definitely a great first experience. The bowls are definitely big enough to share. Next time I would get one for the table. But also their rice balls and creamy shrimp were really surprising too. Everything we had was tasty, and would be down to go back.

Best Mala Xiangguo in Ktown! We came for lunch and this is great for party. Love the Rose Mala Xiangguo and the Jjajang Mala Xiangguo is really special. I recommend order them spicy if you can handle the heat. The flying fish roe rice ball is good for appetizer. The service is also great and we really enjoyed.

First time try Korean Malatang it was really good! You can choose whatever items you like adding to the soup. Their rice balls are perfect to eat with Makatang.

With over 200 branches in South Korea, Sorimmara has been expanding in the US and recently opened its newest location in Los Angeles’ Koreatown. ✨This viral and trendy spot offers a Korean-style twist on the beloved traditional malatang✨ They offer 1 hotpot (with soup) and 4 Xiang Guo (dry pot) options (Mala, Rose Mala, Jjajang Mala & Tomato) plus alllllllll the ingredients you can think of and more to add to your “pot.” The prices are so reasonable here (priced by lb/weight) for the quality of food you get. Also, if you’re like me and like tasting more than just one dish during a meal, there’s plenty of delicious appetizers and entrees to choose from as well We had: Mala Rice Ball, Malatang, Rose Mala Xiang Guo

Love the food! We picked ingredients like veggies and meat from a bowl and choose the flavor of Malaxiangguo! My favorite is Rose Mala Xiangguo and pork guobaorou! It also opens until midnight, which makes it a perfect spot for late night food!

Sorimmara is my go-to for spicy pot! The ingredients are fresh, the broth is rich, and the spice levels are perfect. Portions are generous, and the staff is friendly and quick. If you love flavorful, spicy food, this place is a must-try! I went for the medium spice level, and it was just the right amount of heat—packed with flavor but not overpowering. I’ll definitely be coming back regularly to satisfy my cravings. Highly recommend!