By: Conchita Widjojo
If you are ever in the mood to delve into the spices and delicacies Asia has to offer here in LA, here are some go-to restaurants that will guarantee to have you coming back for more.
Tatsu Ramen, the only ramen with soul. And the only one you’ll ever see naked! That’s right, this place serves the infamous “Naked Ramen,” with zero broth and just as much flavor. They also offer a vegan alternative called the “Hippie Ramen.” The two locations, Sawtelle and Melrose, stay open late (until 3am!) for those of you wanting a late night snack.
(Yelp)
Kanpai, which is a little closer to LMU, offers a mouthwatering menu of sushi, as well as ramen. They even have an LMU roll which, if you haven’t tried yet, is definitely something that will send your taste buds through the roof. There are two of them less than two miles from each other (Lincoln Blvd and Sepulveda Blvd), and both are open until 1am every day of the week.
(Yelp)
If you’re a fan of authentic Korean barbeque and don’t mind the drive, Kang Ho-Dong Baekjeong in DTLA is a definite go-to. It is open until 2am every day of the week, everything on the menu is tender and juicy – and the best part is that you don’t even have to cook it yourself. However, do plan on showering and doing a load of laundry after eating here, as you will definitely smell of Korean BBQ the rest of the day.
(Yelp)
What Asian foods list is complete without Thai food? Natalee Thai is hands-down one of the best Thai restaurants in LA. The pad thai and sticky rice with mango, which unfortunately is seasonal, are the best things the menu has to offer. Available on Robertson Blvd and Venice Blvd, closing at 10pm.
(Natalee Thai Website)
Dim sum Sundays should be a thing – and LA has an array of fantastic dim sum-serving restaurants to choose from. Bao Dim Sum House will fill your stomach up and make you a happy, dim sum-filled camper. Glancing at the menu, you may find yourself wanting to order everything; their Xiao Long Bao is undeniably a customary favorite. Do keep in mind that this is Americanized, so the portion sizes are rather big.
Last, but definitely not least, is a place that screams comfort food, and goes back to my traditional roots in Indonesia. Ramayani offers the closest thing to authentic Indonesian cuisine. The nasi goreng, Indonesian for “fried rice,” is a dish that never disappoints, and is so popular that many other Asian fusion restaurants have adopted it. Located on Westwood Blvd and closes at 10pm daily.
(Yelp)
Go get your taste buds cultured, friends!
Cover Photo via Instagram (@bonnietsang)