Explore the World of Noodles in Los Angeles

In cultures around the world, noodles are an integral part of everyday life, from waiting hours outside a ramen stall in Japan to the instant form that’s become a rite of passage for college undergrads. Noodles offer therapy for those feeling under the weather, bring warm memories of home, or start the healing process after a night of overindulgence. In a city as diverse as Los Angeles, it's no surprise that aficionados can choose from a myriad of noodle dishes. From China and Japan to Thailand and Italy, explore the world of noodles at restaurants across L.A.

Noodles have been a Chinese staple for more than 4,000 years. Regarded as the ancestors of all other noodle dishes, Chinese noodles are incredibly diverse - whether it’s the spicy, chili-heavy noodles of Sichuan, or the warm chicken noodle soup of Yunnan - there’s really something for everyone’s flavor profile. There are a myriad of Chinese noodle options in Los Angeles. To get you started on your culinary journey, here are some of our favorites. Read More →

Beef noodle soup, known as niu rou mian, is the epitome of Chinese comfort food. Found throughout China and Taiwan, it’s a beloved dish that takes hours to make. Beef shanks must be slow-cooked to achieve their creamy texture. Noodles must be chewy and the broth must be rich and sustainable. Traditionally, the noodles are paired with a heaping of pickled mustard greens. Spice level is customizable and sometimes used extremely liberally. Beef noodle soup makes for a wonderfully satisfying lunch or dinner - thankfully, there are plenty of places in Los Angeles to get your fix. Read More →

Noodles are great in steaming bowls of broth, tossed with sauce. When the weather is blazing hot, it’s also perfectly acceptable to cool down your noodles. Los Angeles restaurants offer interesting cold noodle dishes, many available only during summer. Learn about 12 of the best cold noodle options in L.A. Read More →

Japanese cuisine has a wide range of styles and contexts, but noodles are one area that the culture has essentially mastered. Placed in broth, dipped in sauces, tossed with every possible ingredient, these chewy strands are addictive, fun to eat, and incredibly adaptable. Much of L.A.'s Japanese cuisine finds its foundation in the South Bay, but there are also great noodle restaurants on the Westside and of course Little Tokyo in Downtown L.A. From hefty white udon noodles to umami-rich ramen and chewy soba, here's a sampler of some of the best Japanese noodles in Los Angeles. Read More →

Pad thai blends together the best parts of Thai cooking: sweet, spicy, sour and funky. Almost all pad thai has egg, ground peanuts, scallions and a lime wedge. The very best will also have dried shrimp, pressed tofu, chili powder and even crispy pork. More and more versions are being served around L.A. as off-menu specials or alternatives to the overly sweet, bright orange noodle dish that’s offered on the average menu. Here are the 10 best pad thai dishes in Los Angeles. Read More →

Pasta noodles, initially consumed as an easy and inexpensive food staple for the masses, has taken center stage at the ever-growing number of Italian restaurants in Los Angeles. Innovative chefs are putting inventive twists on traditional recipes with hand cut and house made pasta; local and sustainable ingredients; variations of cheese, meat, and seafood; and unique accents, such as fennel pollen and nettles. Check out 10 of the best pasta dishes in Los Angeles right now, from newcomers to classics that have stood the test of time. Read More →

Pho has been around for a century and is indisputably the national dish of Vietnam. A good pho takes hours to make; beef bones and parts are simmered under low heat to obtain a rich, complex flavor. Southern pho is known for an abundant use of spices and flavorings, and versatile cuts of meat like tripe and brisket. Northern pho is much more simplistic - the noodles are flatter and wider, and the focus is on its pure beef broth. Here are ten great places to get your pho fix in Los Angeles. Read More →

Ramen, the savory Japanese noodle soup, has grown from a dorm room staple to an artisan phenomenon. Now, almost every L.A. neighborhood has at least one viable ramen option, and neighborhoods like Little Tokyo, Sawtelle Japantown, and Torrance are bubbling over with rich, flavorful broth. Learn about 12 of the best ramen bowls in Los Angeles. Read More →

Historically, the Chiu Chow Chinese are some of the smartest, fastest-moving, hardest-working merchants and sojourners of the Chinese diaspora. Their footprints can be tracked in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Taiwan (Fujian), Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and even the Philippines. Essentially, they are everywhere, and so is their food. When you walk into a restaurant that offers 3-4 different languages on the menu, you're most likely in a Chiu Chow establishment. It will usually be Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian and sometimes Thai. The following round-up of some of the best noodles in Los Angeles County focuses on dishes from Southeast Asia's "Golden Triangle" and Southeast China. Read More →