Los Angeles Restaurants Serve Up Warm Bowls as Rainy Halloween Weekend Approaches
A travel blogger highlights 11 top soup spots in Los Angeles, from Vietnamese pho to hearty chicken noodle, as forecasts predict rain for the holiday weekend.
As Los Angeles braces for a potentially wet Halloween weekend, with forecasts indicating the possibility of the first Halloween rain in the city since 2014, local eateries are being highlighted for their comforting soup offerings. Travel blogger Mariana in LA has compiled a list of 11 favored establishments serving a variety of soups, from traditional pho to classic chicken noodle.
The blogger acknowledged the return of Souplantation, a Southern California institution that closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, with plans to reopen in 2027.
Among the highlighted establishments is Pho 87 in Chinatown, noted for its Rare Beef Pho. The blogger described the broth as "rich, deeply aromatic, and packed with flavor," with thinly sliced rare beef that becomes tender in the hot broth. Another featured spot is Chong Qing Special Noodles in San Gabriel, known for its chicken noodle soup, which was a favored eatery of late Los Angeles Times food critic Jonathan Gold. This dish is characterized by fresh hand-cut noodles, tender chicken, bok choy, and a comforting broth.
In Koreatown, Buil Samgye Tang's ginseng chicken soup is recommended. The blogger noted the exceptional tenderness of the chicken and the accompanying banchan, including kimchi and radish, along with complimentary herbal tea. The #3 variation of the soup, which includes goji berries, was specifically praised for its antioxidant properties.
Thai Town is represented by Roasted Duck by Pa Ord, a restaurant described as "no frills" and not ideal for large groups. However, its duck noodle soup received high praise, with the combination of succulent duck, thin rice noodles, and thick bean sprouts in a flavorful broth called "magical."
The list also includes other notable soup selections across Los Angeles: Japanese Plum “Ume” Soup from Otafuku in Gardena; Chicken Soup from Kismet Rotisserie in Studio City, Los Feliz, Culver City, and Pasadena; Chicken Dumpling Soup from Gjusta in Venice; Beef Noodle Soup from Corner Beef Noodle House in El Monte; Chicken Noodle Soup from Heng Heng Chicken Rice in Thai Town; Lentil Soup from Panini Kabob Grill with locations in Hollywood, Century City, and Downtown LA; and Japanese BBQ Chicken Ramen from Torisoba Sumiya in Sawtelle.