
At Moobongri Soondae, soondaekook is the go-to dish. Arriving at the table unseasoned, diners have the option of choosing from a variety of ingredients to fine-tune it to their palates. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

One of Western Soondae’s more popular dishes is the spice rice cake. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

Customers enjoy a Friday lunch at Moobongri. Although it has a chain of 350 restaurants in South Korea, the Koreatown location is Moobongri’s first in the United States. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
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Soondae accompanied by beef and pork is a customer favorite at Western Soondae. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

Moobongri’s seasonal buckwheat noodle, served with icy dongchimi kimchi, is another popular choice of customers. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)