Western Doma Noodles

First time trying cold soybean noodles and it was amazing! It had a hint of sesame noodle taste and the texture looks like almost an Alfredo sauce. Sprinkle some salt or sugar onto the noodles for an authentic experience according to the workers. They were very helpful. But it was very good and I have no comments. I can’t compare this to other soybean noodles but it was good. The hot fish soup was also good as well and the place seems quite authentic. The kimchi they gave us was also amazing.

I used to come here 20 years ago when I lived in Ktown. I came again today and it was just as good as I remember. I think the waitress was the same woman from 20 years ago as well. The food is as good as I remember and it's close to home cooking. The side dishes aren't extravagant. They are closer to what my grandmother would have made. If you want some good Korean comfort food, I would recommend coming here.

A hidden gem for authentic Korean comfort food! Western Doma Noodles serves up delicious, homestyle dishes packed with bold flavors. Their handmade noodles are a must try, perfectly chewy and soaked in rich, savory broths. The kimchi stew is another standout, with deep, well balanced flavors that hit the spot. Portions are generous, prices are reasonable, and the cozy, no frills atmosphere makes it feel like a true local favorite. The staff is friendly and welcoming, adding to the homey vibe. Definitely a go to spot for comforting and authentic Korean food in LA. Highly recommended!

I visited Western Doma Noodles 웨스턴 도마 칼국수 for an early lunch. Since the sign featured “Kalguksu 칼국수” (knife-cut noodles), I ordered the clam kalguksu and buckwheat noodles. The noodles are hand-cut in-house, giving them a unique texture that reminds me of the homemade noodles my grandmother used to make in the Korean countryside. The broth is thick and hearty, with potato and zucchini. The texture might not be for everyone, but I personally enjoyed it. They also serve a separate chili soy sauce that adds a delicious spicy kick. The buckwheat noodles were a bit too sweet for my taste, so I’d recommend the kalguksu over that. The woodwork furniture and interior give off a nostalgic, old-Korea atmosphere. One more thing — I was touched to see the owner kindly offering a seat and a small meal to a homeless person who came into the mall. It’s rare to see that kind of warmth these days. This place isn’t just about good food — it’s full of heart.

A cute little Korean place. Food is pretty decent, I’d recommend the braised cod fish, which is very tender and has a very large portion. Seafood pancakes are pretty decent too. Would not recommend the cold buckwheat noodles, which don’t taste of much other than vinegar, and the texture of the noodles was nothing special. Service was fantastic; a super friendly Korean lady who didn’t speak much English was our server.

This is a long-standing, well-known Korean restaurant in K town. The food tastes good, but it's overpriced. However, the servers were kind and attentive.

The food here was unmatched. This is the most authentic, hearty, and delicious Korean meal in LA. The food was prepared quickly and the portions were humongous for the price. The service was overwhelmingly nice. The lady came to thank us for coming and made sure we felt comfortable. She packed our food to go meticulously and was the kindest person.

I don't get how this place is rated 4.5 stars at the time of this review. We went for lunch one day and there were only two tables, us included, and the side dishes took 20 mins to come out (even though they're fully prepped beforehand) and the actual food took 30-40 mins to come out. I don't think jjolmyeon / chewy spicy noodles (쫄면) should take more than 10 mins to prep. For the dak do ri tang / spicy chicken stew (닭도리탕), the potatoes were almost undercooked and the sauce tasted entirely of black pepper and nothing else. For the chul pan bulgogi (철판불고기), it just tasted as if I threw meat onto a skillet at home with no seasoning whatsoever. Even the onions didn't add anything to the dish. Everything was mostly flavorless and there were flies circling the tables nonstop, giving the vibe that the restaurant isn't clean at all. Don't be fooled by the people who are nostalgic for this place. A colleague of mine ate here years ago and agreed it was good back then. Now? Not so much. You're better off going to a different place in ktown.

Awesome noodles in a hole in the wall place with friendly service. Every time I'm in LA I'm here.

Decently priced, great service, and best of all, my stomach is happy. Lived in LA for over 43 years and just found out about this place. Just found my regular establishment. No more new, trendy, and over priced eateries. The food here is not chemically tasty; rather cooked with motherly love. The grandmother server is kind and attentive. Even without us having to ask, she brought forks for the kids. When our youngest whined for fried dumpling, she brought it on the house. There are so many items on the menu to choose, from meat dishes to seafood to soups/stews and noodles. The side dishes of vegetables and kimchi were tasty. During peak meal times, parking spaces can be limited as it shares with other businesses.

low-key authentic Korean restaurant. The ahjumma was so nice to us! Food is great: banchan (side dishes) - lots of variety! I liked the seaweed, fish cake, kimchi radish, and bean sprouts. Specials #13 seafood pancake $19.99 - Good. Not overloaded with green onions. The sauce that came with it could have been saltier. Specials #9 chicken stew $25.99 - spicy! Chicken was cooked well. Lots of potatoes. The small bones are annoying. #22 stone pot bibimbap $14.99 - tasty. The ahjumma brought out a bowl of gochujang filled to the top. It was good and not too sweet. #9 chewy spicy noodles $13.99 - delicious. I'd get this again. Came with a soft boiled egg. Specials #12 stir-fried squid $24.99 - I'd get this again too. The rice cake was eh, but the squid was good. Not too spicy. Prices are a bit high, but so is everywhere else right now. The menu is extensive but has some solid favorites. They have a small parking lot in this plaza, so it wasn't hard to find at 7 PM on a week night. Typical of a local Korean joint, they post menu items with prices on the walls. Even better - they have pictures of the food!

This review is way overdue. My co-worker introduced to me to this restaurant. My favorite dish here is the Noodle Soup with Dumplings. One of my fave comfort foods. The broth is flavorful, but no too salty. I'm a fan of dumplings too. The other dishes we had were the Stir-fried Squid and Beef Bulgogi. This was too much food for us. Both were flavorful and delicious. You also get banchan with your meals as well...which is nice! Usually you get banchans at Korean bbq places. There's private parking available also. Great customer service as well.

Went for a quick lunch. The service is good, the lady that is working this place is very sweet and hard working. I feel bad for giving a bad review, but the seafood kalgooksoo I had was pretty bad and my Mom's braised monkfish was just alright. The seafood kalgooksoo had two small shrimp and two calamar pieces with bunch of fishcake. Banchan was just ok. Maybe I always order the wrong thing here? I'm not sure how a place that has Noodles in its name (and in Korean, Kalgooksoo specifically) can hand out such mediocre kalgooksoo dish. Kinda disappointed.

Came here with my boyfriend and a friend before a night out in K-town. The three of us ordered the clam kalguksu, bibim naengmyeon, seafood noodle, and a seafood pancake to share. We probably would have been fine with ordering just two of the noodles and the seafood pancake since the portions are on the bigger side. We had lots of leftovers. When it comes to Korean noodles, bibim naengmyeon is my favorite. So flavorful and refreshing! It was my boyfriend's first time trying it and he liked it a lot too. But out of everything we ate for this meal, I think the seafood pancake was the best. They definitely don't skimp on the seafood here. I liked it a lot, but keep in mind it is on the softer side and not as crispy as some might prefer. Like most places in Koreatown, the parking lot is quite small and limited to valet so we parked on one of the nearby streets. Overall if you like your Korean food homestyle, no-frills and affordable, you'll like this restaurant.

Wow, just wow! Luckily, we beat the crowd. Indoor and outdoor seating were filled to capacity when we left. All sorts of people were eating here and enjoying their meals. If I had a Korean grandma, this place and service would be what I pictured. The decorations felt asian home-like and the way she placed food on our plates and mixed the sauce for us... made me miss my grandma. She was doing all the front service work, and it so busy. I wanted to help. Everything was delicious! The noodles had great texture & taste, seafood pancake was paired well with the sauce (wasabi was added), and served with tasty banchan. I wish I had a bigger stomach to try more dishes that day but I'll just have to come back!

This charming Korean gem has stood the test of time, offering a taste of nostalgia that feels like a warm embrace from grandma's kitchen. While the service may be a bit slow due to their limited staff, the patience is well-rewarded with comforting, home-cooked-style dishes. A must-try for those seeking a taste of Korean comfort food that feels like a trip down memory lane.

Just happened to stumble upon this place driving by looking for a place to eat. We pulled in, and we were very surprised at what came out. We were the only ones in the restaurant too. We ordered the Jap Chae Noodles, Bulgogi Beef, some steamed dumplings, the lady was really sweet, we were going to order more food but she stopped us and said nope that's enough you will get full, and she was right. The portions were big and the price was reasonable too. When you walk inside you feel pretty tucked away, it's a cozy feeling here. Definitely will come back.

Small hole in the wall with delicious Korean food. We always get the pork bulgogi, jap chae and kimchi pancake. The last time we tried something new - chicken stew. It's a keeper. The banchans are always delicious. The owner is very sweet and kind and basically the only wait staff but the kitchen is quick. Go you won't regret it.

One of the original noodle spots in K-Town! Tried the spicy seafood noodle soup, fish egg soup, and the seafood pancake. The spicy seafood noodle soup was medium spicy and it had an ample amount of seafood (e.g., shrimp, squid, and clam). The noodles were the star; chewy and cooked just right. The broth hit the spot. The seafood pancake was a hit. The ratio of batter, seafood, and green onions were just right. Cooked with nice crispy edges. The fish egg soup was flavorful, and I appreciated that it wasn't overwhelming with salt and MSG. Overall, this is a solid spot. Parking is tight, but worth the hassle.

Been here before. About 6months ago. Everything was fine but, the price went up. I totally understand the situation due to inflation. No choice for that. We'll visit again soon.

This place is always consistently good. Everything here just reminds you of a classic Korean home cooked meal. The braised black cod is my favorite thing to get from here- it's so flavorful and nutritious. I also love all the little side dishes you get along with your food (all made fresh by the ladies in the back). You can't go wrong with any of the 칼국수too. But the best part about this place is the owner- she's been there forever & is sooo friendly and takes care of her customers.

My first time here and it is a place to go in K-town. I also had intestine soup, but forgot to take a pic. I was drinking all intestine soup, and was still craving haha. If you like intestine and if you want to taste a bit of noodle, order it. No msg in the soup. My body and face were okay after "drinking" the intestine soup haha. Also, seafood pancake was fresh and delicious. Ttoboki too. My fav food, and it is a bit spicy, but i am a big fan of spicy foods. I really liked it a lot! Can eat all day long haha

I've been coming here since the 90's. My parents love to come here for the handmade dumplings whenever they are in town. I love the simplicity of the menu, like the best hits of comfort Korean food!

Hands down best meal we had in L.A. Stumbled upon this humble eatery located in a little casual/run down strip mall, but the food does not reflect that at all. Quality handmade noodles to go in my spicy seafood soup (maybe noodles were a touch overcooked but probably just because my soup was superr hot)- and do you see the size of that bowl?? That was meant to feed two I'm sure now. But I finished it all with a little broth leftover (with some help from my friend). Her Spicy Beef Soup was also really delicious, with a very flavorful, deeply beefy broth, and a generous portion of beef - it has lots of ingredients in it including glass noodles, and came with a side of purple rice of course. The last thing we ordered to share was the seafood pancake, which was also really lovely. It could've been even crispier but the outside was a touch crispy with the interior being thick and fluffy. Lots of seafood in it though. On top of all this, we forgot the banchan was going to come too - which was also very abundant. There were so many dishes. All in all we were past stuffed (would have taken more leftovers but we had to leave town the next day so we wanted to finish what we could) - so we only had half the seafood pancake leftover. The ajumma serving us was so sweet and service was great. Can't wait to go back next time!

I felt like I was at my Korean grandma's house. The food was so homie and nostalgic. (5/5) the spicy chicken stew was not too sweet and perfect (5/5) the braised cutlassfish is spicy soysauce based where the fish fell right off the bones into my mouth (5/5) the cook offered us complimentary spicy rice cakes that is NOT your average rice cake! It doesn't have the store made taste but its also not your home cooked rice cakes. Its more like old grandma selling your her special version of sweet savory rice cakes on the streets of Korea back in the 80s vibe/taste Service was incredible as they finished off my meal with freshly cut (watched her cut it) whole orange 100/10 would return to try all of their food!

This review is long over due. This place is one of my favorite places in Korea town for cold noodles. Last week few coworkers and I went to lunch here and all of the food we had was delicious. Service may be a little slow at times as an older woman is the only waitress but she is so sweet and kind. I can't wait for summer to go back for the cold noodles.

I've been going to this restaurant for 10+ years. It's nice and cozy and the owner is very sweet. I usually get their Galbi because it's really tender and savory, but not overly salty or sweet. My wife really likes their noodle dishes, and we do take out from here several times a month.

Brought parents for lunch today. Ordered black cod dish, seafood dol sot, jjamppong kalguksoo, and yuk gae jang. Jjamppong and yuk gae jang were soooooooo salty. Would not return.

You will find authentic Korean food at this homey, mom and pop restaurant, which has been around Ktown for a long time. Sizable portions and reasonable prices as well! We got the cold bean noodles and clam kalguksu, which came with a variety of banchan. Saturday afternoon was hot so the cold bean noodles were really refreshing. The bean could have been ground a little bit more but that's just my personal preference. My favorite version is still from surawon but this one is definitely nice and hit the spot! Clam kalguksu had a generous amount of shelled clams with their homemade noodles. The broth is a little thicker than the usual clam broth at other restaurants, making it more hearty and better at keeping the soup hot throughout the meal. The lady who took our order was really sweet! Unfortunately, she was stretched thin taking care of everyone at the restaurant as well as takeout orders. I would advise incorporating some extra time for your delicious meal here :)

The banchan is good. I got the seafood soup. (jammpong) was pretty good. not too spicy. just wish they added more shrimps & wished it was peeled . I only had one inside my soup.

Wow there banchan is one of the best selections in town. Their noodles are delicious and flavorful, they service is beyond great, and they are reasonably priced.

Food taste amazing, never fail on the services, this spot is hidden. I been coming here for years and the food always taste amazing

Hit that comfort food craving. I ordered seolleongtang, which was alright. I do think Han Bat has the better soup, but I wouldn't sleep on Western Doma either. The entire shop was served by one sweet old lady, who doesn't speak much English at all. Party of two was seated right away at 5pm on a Saturday.

Excellent cold buckwheat noodles, dol sot bimimbap and bulgogi. Tasty array of ban Chan and great fried dumplings.

Whenever we visit KTown, we always try a random restaurant because there are so many. But today, I want to revisit Western Doma noodle because last time here was pre-COVID. And we wanted to eat their #1 special- braised black cod. The sauce or soup of the dish is just phenomenal. It pairs well with anything not just fish. The cod itself is perfection, creamy, soft, smooth... and not that much fishbone either. You have to eat the cod with the tofu, dikon, and green chili peppers, especially the chili peppers. They are unseeded and it sort of resets the palate after eating so much fish, so the fish will always taste sweet, creamy and smooth. It was a great lunch and we bagged half of the plate for dinner. The old lady serving us (maybe the owner?) is so kind and so sweet, I love her, and so happy to see her again after 3 years.

Delicious home cooked Korean food at this hole in the wall restaurant ! Fresh, good prices, yummy flavors. I've been coming here for years and I highly recommend !

Craving for some good Korean food, this is the place to go. Also, if you want a restaurant that has easy parking they have a lot in front of the restaurant! A parking lot, which is amazing cause you know how hard it is to park in LA! For food, I had the soft tofu with no spicy cause your girl can't handle spice but it was delicious! And the sides they give was amazing! My friends got galbi which was very good. But overall it was an amazing experience thanks to the server! She was so sweet, she even gave us a free appetizer! The ambiance of the restaurant was very cute and it felt like I was in Korea. So, if you want a cute hole in the wall korean restaurant come here! It will be worth it!

If you're looking for an authentic Korean restaurant, this is the place. Here is a tip, if you see a lot of Korean elders in the restaurant, it means food is good and they are not overpriced compared to others. Food is great, just like how mama makes it, not overloading on MSG and salt. On top of that, the owner is super sweet and cares for her customers. I just love everything about this place. I highly recommend it. Menu wise, just explore. Too many yummy food to list - I'm still going through them.

Came here for a light lunch on a Sunday and it was delicious. Ordered the noodle soup with chicken and fried dumplings. Chicken noodle soup was pretty large (definitely shareable) and the soup base was thicker than anticipated but good. Chicken was juicy and noodles were nicely made (al dente). The fried dumplings were surprisingly meatless and the menu did not indicate that; and as meatless dumplings, it was a bit pricy for what you get. You do get complimentary banchan (side dishes). Overall, the food was great, service was a bit slow but it was just the owner I believe taking the orders in person and over the phone, and serving the tables. Friendly staff. They have outdoor seating as well.

The best spicy chicken stew! I can never get tired of this. If you have the chance to visit, you must give it a try.

They have the best spicy beef noodle soup I've ever had! It had so much meat and rich in all the flavors. The seafood pancake was also really good! It's a cozy restaurant and with amazing service. Will definitely be coming back once I'm in LA again.

Home style korean food at its best! Homemade BANCHAN! she works hard and so does her crew..

We recently visited as a group and ordered several of their dishes including their Chicken Stew, a fish dish, the spicy pork belly, seafood pancake, and squid stir fry. Let me tell you, it was like eating at your grandma's. The food tasted homemade and everything was delicious. Can't wait to go back again!

Fish called Imyunsu gui is at best. Grilled fish with lots of side dishes and steamed mixed rice.. So so good.

I LOVE the owner Paik! She is the BEST! I always feel so welcomed by her and she has such a good soul. Bless her heart! The food is AMAZING! The side dishes are always so FRESH! Highly recommended this restaurant!

Great side dishes. Friendly service . All dishes I had there were good. Comfortable and casual.

The food is great. We highly recommend the Ginseng chicken soup, the short rib beef soup and the seafood pancakes. The portions are big. The prices are reasonable. And the granny server is really nice and friendly.

I used to eat here couple times a week for couple years when I used to work only blocks away. I always found food here very comforting. It was like the home food. Not just because of the good food, but because of warm welcome I received every time visited here. Food is excellent, there's no doubt. Not so fancy like some restaurants make to cover up for lesser tasting food but home like food. Same owner lady who I used to see 15 years ago is still here serving with the same smile. She greets you, and talks to you, but never raise her voice. She is always calm. Many ole folks come here to eat. And that's always a good sign. I had Kimchi Stew, Spicy stir fried squid and a seafood pancake. They were all good. But best of all is the Kimchi Stew (with pork). It's so good, I can eat it everyday! If you crave Korean homestyle comfort food, you will never regret here.

Doesn't look like a lot when going in, when I first got into the parking lot I was a little confused which place I was suppose to go to but wow their food is delicious! Definitely come here on an off time I came around 11am on a Wednesday and their phone was ringing off the hook and by 1pm the restaurant was filled. I ordered: Seafood pancake - Great, there is lots of veggies, not too doughy consistency, and has a bite to it. They cut it like a pizza and serve it to you with their dipping sauce and "wasabi" in the middle. I initially slowly added the "wasabi" but then just mixed it all together. Would order again and show people this if I wanted people to try it for the first time. Spicy noodles with seafood - The star of this dish is definitely the noodles. You can taste that these were handmade. They have the softness and a bite like only in house noodles have. This combined with the perfect heat spicy soup and the bite of the octopus made me know I was gonna come back for more. Banchans - there is a wide variety of banchans for people to try so if someone doesn't like something there is something else they might like. I truly enjoyed this place and would definitely go back the only downside to this place is that you can tell they pay a little more attention to their certain customers more than others. I asked for my receipt and a box waited around 20 minutes and ended up just doing the math for how much it would be for the food, tax, tip, and gave it to them in cash so I could leave.

Some of the best Korean food in all of Koreatown. The woman that works there is so nice and so helpful that she'll make you want to call your mother and tell her how much you love and miss her. And I'm not even Korean! The amount of food you get for your money is so worth it. I could not recommend this place more. You won't regret it!!! It's like comfort food personified. Food: A+++ Service: A+++ Feels Like You're Eating with Family: 100%

after seeing the good reviews for it on yelp, we decided to try western doma noodles. be warned - it is pretty authentic korean - meaning while the food is really good, it can also be a little difficult communicating. the menu is primarily in korean with some translations and the workers didn't understand any english. i had to pull out my broken korean to get our order across. the actual bibimbap here was sooo good we wanted to come back every night for it. portions and price all good and would definitely recommend to others

Wow! Authentic Korean food is here! Ox tail soup is delicious! And now I can't stop thinking about it! The staff are super friendly!

I ate not too long ago, but my family wanted Korean, so I ordered something light, the bean cold noodle. The noodle dish was subtle, sophisticated, and surprisingly hearty. After everyone wanted me to try their dish, I was not able to finish mine. I left about half still in the bowl. When we were checking out, this sweet lady realized I did not finish my meal. Shocked and concerned, she asked me if I did not like it and if she could switch it. We told her, "No, no, I ate before we arrived." Persistent and sweet like my grandma/mom, She even offered to-Go, but we told her, "No, no, no, it was not necessary." On the way out, she told us the next time I come, I can get something different. Unfortunately, we are out of town, but I will definitely be back. This place has my favorite Tteokbokki.

I mainly come here for the vegan friendly side dishes and some of the dishes that are vegan friendly. The owner seems to be this older lady who is very friendly and will not only accommodate to vegans (ask for no fish or shrimp in side dishes) but also accommodate if we want a different type of noodle. We usually get the soy bean broth noodles with chewy buckwheat noodles. The check usually ends with some complementary fruit-- last time we had slices of blood orange.

I think I ordered the wrong thing here, at Western Doma Noodles! I am so bummed about it. Western Doma Noodles has been on my radar for some time now. The photos of the hand cut noodles have been dancing in my brain. Sunday Morning, I had just gotten done partying my butt off the night before and I wanted something soothing and delicious to bring me back to life. And alas, I decided to pull the trigger and finally get some hand made noodles in my belly. I walked in around 1:30pm on a Sunday and only one family was there. I was greeted by the server (who was tiny and adorable) and took a seat at one of the tables in the back. I ordered a giant Kloud ( which I have never had before but was super cold and yummy) Once I sat down, I peered straight through to the kitchen where other adorable older women were making food. It was like being at a friend's house for dinner. Now for my grave mistake, I thought that all the soups had handmade noodles, but they didn't. Don't get me wrong the beef soup with rice was delicious, but wasn't exactly what I was looking for. I want to try this place again, the atmosphere is very chill and relaxing and I love feeling like I am eating in someone's granny's kitchen.

We're so glad we decided to stop in to this small and friendly establishment because their Spicy Buckwheat Noodle is the best we've ever had! It had a perfect balance of flavors and plenty of vegetable. We also tried their Noodles in Cold Soybean soup, which was quite tasty but we prefer the dish with acorn noodles and they don't offer them. Their Homemade Noodle Soup with Clams is comforting on a cold, rainy day and their noodles were perfectly cooked and had a great chewy texture. They are generous with their banchan and we appreciated having such a large assortment to choose from.

FANTASTIC! Probably the best home cooked korean restaurant you can find in ktown. The owner lady is SUPER nice, she never stops serving and never stops smiling. Portions are huge, price is reasonable, food is delicious. Cant beat that I used to come here often with all of my friends before covid. First time visiting after covid, nothing has changed other than the tables and chairs outside under the tent. *she did not hesitate to give a couple of $$ to a homeless person who walked by the restaurant while everyone ignored her. God bless her.

This is one of the best Korean spicy chicken soup "dak tto ri tang". Owner and Server were warm welcome our couple. Asked several time, if we need refills or extra. Two thumbs up with 5stars in Korean Food Restaurant in Ktown LA.