On a cool day (or any day) in Los Angeles, a top choice for lunch is hot soup--the one with handrolled noodles and fresh clams at Miari Noodle House in Koreatown.
A dozen clams top off a bowl filled with handmade noodles and delicate natural clam broth. Although the soup looks bland, it has a sneaky undertone of heat from diced green chiles. Most of these are mild, but one green bit set off so much fire in my mouth that I had to reach quickly for the cool barley tea that accompanies meals.
Another surprise. Those thin white slices in the bowl aren't white radish but potato. Green onions and fine strands of green squash are more to be expected.
Some Korean noodle shops provide banchan (assorted side dishes), but here the only accompaniment is a plate of cabbage kimchi and radish slices (above)--spicy, a little sweet and delicious. The price is delicious too--$8.99.
Miari Noodle House, 3224 W. Olympic Blvd., #102, Los Angeles, CA 90006. (323) 735-0647.
Recent Comments