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Cold sesame noodles at Ryla in Hermosa Beach.
Cold sesame noodles at Ryla in Hermosa Beach.
Ron De Angelis

15 Refreshing Cold Noodles to Keep Cool This Summer in LA

Korean naengmyeon, Japanese soba, Vietnamese bun, and more

by Cathy Chaplin and Matthew Kang Updated
1 comment / new
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Cold sesame noodles at Ryla in Hermosa Beach.
| Ron De Angelis
by Cathy Chaplin and Matthew Kang Updated
1 comment / new

For those looking to stay cool when summer’s heat reaches its peak in the coming weeks, give the air conditioner a break and order a bowl of cold noodles instead. From Korean naengmyeon to Vietnamese bun and Japanese udon and soba, Los Angeles’s restaurants are well-versed in the art of cold noodles. Here now are 15 perfectly slurpable renditions to fend off the hot days ahead.

Removed: Noodle St., Santouka Ramen, Meiji Seimen
Added: Lao Xi Noodle House, Ryla, Steep

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

Yabu

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This West LA sushi spot also features some of the best house-made soba noodles in the city. The freshly made buckwheat noodles are served cold on a tray or with a variety of toppings, like broiled duck, grated yam, and nameko mushrooms. Yabu also prepares cold udon noodles with similar toppings.

11820 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 473-9757
(310) 473-9757
Soba machine at Yabu in West LA.
Soba machine at Yabu in West LA
Yabu

Marugame Udon

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The signature nikutama bowl at Sawtelle noodle spot Marugame Udon comes with a scant amount of sweetened broth, shredded beef, and chubby udon noodles. Ask for it to be served cold for the ultimate antidote to a hot day.

2029 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
(424) 317-2222
(424) 317-2222
Nikutama at Marugame Udon in a paper bowl.
Nikutama at Marugame Udon
Matthew Kang

Ryla

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Hermosa Beach hotspot Ryla recently launched a weekend brunch and on the menu are cold sesame noodles with shredded chicken, cucumbers, pickled carrots, crispy garlic, Sichuan peppercorn oil, and cilantro. Slurp up a bowl of tongue-numbing goodness and wash it all down with a strawberry spritz.

1220 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
(424) 247-9881
(424) 247-9881
Cold sesame noodles at Ryla in Hermosa Beach.
Cold sesame noodles at Ryla in Hermosa Beach.
Ron De Angelis

Also featured in:

Olympic Noodle Restaurant

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Olympic Noodle’s konggooksoo — thin noodles swimming in a thick, ice cold soybean soup — always makes an appearance in the summer months. Grab a refreshing bowl before fall hits.

4008 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
(323) 931-0007
(323) 931-0007

Also featured in:

Ichimi Ann Bamboo Garden

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The soba noodles at Ichimi Ann Bamboo Garden are made from scratch and beloved for its pleasingly chewy texture. Nearly every menu item can be ordered cold, including the yuzu oroshi with its citrus broth, grated radish, and fresh shiso.

1618 Cravens Ave, Torrance, CA
(310) 328-1323
(310) 328-1323
Cold soba noodles from Ichimiann
Cold soba noodles from Ichimiann
Matthew Kang

Also featured in:

Old Time Noodle House

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Classic Gardena Korean restaurant Old Time Noodle House features a chin naengmyeon, or cold arrowroot starch noodle soup. The broth won’t be ice cold but rather chilled to refrigerator temp in a tangy, umami-rich broth. The slightly chewy arrowroot starch noodles aren’t as substantial as the more common buckwheat, though equally fun to slurp up on a hot day.

15325 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA 90249
(310) 327-3231
(310) 327-3231
Chin naengmyeon, arrowroot starch cold noodles, from Old Time Noodle House in Gardena.
Chin naengmyeon, arrowroot starch cold noodles, from Old Time Noodle House in Gardena
Matthew Kang

Also featured in:

Otafuku Noodle House

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Otafuku crafts two different types of soba noodles: the signature milky-white seiro soba and a darker kikouchi soba made of buckwheat flour. Both are served firm in a variety of cold preparations.

16525 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA
(310) 532-9348
(310) 532-9348

Also featured in:

Yu Chun Chic Naeng Myun

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Of all the naengmyeon spots in Koreatown, Yu Chun most closely resembles the kind of no-frills shops found in South Korean suburbs. Chewy noodles and a highly drinkable icy broth make this a favorite among naengmyeon neophytes and homesick Koreans alike.

3185 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
(213) 382-3815
(213) 382-3815

Also featured in:

Myung Dong Kyoja

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Try the jjolmyeon at Myung Dong Kyoja, which features chewy noodles, a slightly sweet gochujang sauce, julienned vegetables, and a hard boiled egg on top.

3630 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
(213) 385-7789
(213) 385-7789

Also featured in:

The Corner Place

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The Corner Place serves LA’s very best bowl of dongchimi gooksoo — an ice-cold noodle soup with a vinegary kimchi-based broth.

2819 James M Wood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
(213) 487-0968
(213) 487-0968

Steep LA

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The shady courtyard at Steep LA in Chinatown is the perfect place to cool down and slurp up some cold noodles. The Lao Gan Ma soba salad, which is a seasonal special, comes with soba noodles and fresh pea tendrils tossed in a chile crisp-spiked sauce. Every bowl is topped with tea-marinated beef shank.

970 N Broadway Suite 112, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 394-5045
(213) 394-5045

Noodle Harmony

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Stop into Noodle Harmony in Monterey Park for Sichuan noodles and Hunan rice noodle soups. Perfect for summer are the cold chicken noodles and the mung bean cold noodles. Pair them with any of the excellent appetizers, including pigs ears or the chilled tofu.

735 W Garvey Ave, Monterey Park, CA 91754
(626) 656-6562
(626) 656-6562

Yang's Kitchen

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Leave it to chef Chris Yang to hit it out of the ballpark with a dish as deceptively simple as sesame noodles. The version served at Yang’s Kitchen is made with Semolina organic spaghetti, Persian cucumbers, pickled carrots, crushed peanuts, cilantro, scallion, and a sesame sauce that’s wonderfully balanced and even better with the house-made chile crisp.

112 W Main St, Alhambra, CA 91801
(626) 281-1035
(626) 281-1035
Cold sesame noodles at Yang’s Kitchen in Alhambra.
Cold sesame noodles at Yang’s Kitchen in Alhambra.
Cathy Chaplin

Also featured in:

Golden Deli Restaurant

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Vietnamese bun is always a good call on a hot day, but for those looking to try something else, the banh hoi — woven noodle sheets topped with proteins and served with fish sauce — is equally compelling.

815 W Las Tunas Dr, San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 308-0803
(626) 308-0803

Also featured in:

Lao Xi Noodle House

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The fantastic hun yuan cold jelly at Lao Xi Noodle is just the thing on a hot summer day. Dig into a bowlful of bouncy potato starch cuboids submerged in sesame paste, vinegar, and chile oil with a heap of julienned cucumbers. The cold jelly is unexpectedly light with an unforgettable vinegary bite. 

921 S Baldwin Ave Ste G-H, Arcadia, CA 91007
(626) 348-8836
(626) 348-8836
A bowl filled with thick cuboids made from potato starch with cucumbers and chile oil.
Hun yuan cold jelly at Lao Xi Noodle in Arcadia.
Cathy Chaplin

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Yabu

11820 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
Soba machine at Yabu in West LA.
Soba machine at Yabu in West LA
Yabu

This West LA sushi spot also features some of the best house-made soba noodles in the city. The freshly made buckwheat noodles are served cold on a tray or with a variety of toppings, like broiled duck, grated yam, and nameko mushrooms. Yabu also prepares cold udon noodles with similar toppings.

11820 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 473-9757
(310) 473-9757
Soba machine at Yabu in West LA.
Soba machine at Yabu in West LA
Yabu

Marugame Udon

2029 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Nikutama at Marugame Udon in a paper bowl.
Nikutama at Marugame Udon
Matthew Kang

The signature nikutama bowl at Sawtelle noodle spot Marugame Udon comes with a scant amount of sweetened broth, shredded beef, and chubby udon noodles. Ask for it to be served cold for the ultimate antidote to a hot day.

2029 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
(424) 317-2222
(424) 317-2222
Nikutama at Marugame Udon in a paper bowl.
Nikutama at Marugame Udon
Matthew Kang

Ryla

1220 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
Cold sesame noodles at Ryla in Hermosa Beach.
Cold sesame noodles at Ryla in Hermosa Beach.
Ron De Angelis

Hermosa Beach hotspot Ryla recently launched a weekend brunch and on the menu are cold sesame noodles with shredded chicken, cucumbers, pickled carrots, crispy garlic, Sichuan peppercorn oil, and cilantro. Slurp up a bowl of tongue-numbing goodness and wash it all down with a strawberry spritz.

1220 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
(424) 247-9881
(424) 247-9881
Cold sesame noodles at Ryla in Hermosa Beach.
Cold sesame noodles at Ryla in Hermosa Beach.
Ron De Angelis

Olympic Noodle Restaurant

4008 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Olympic Noodle’s konggooksoo — thin noodles swimming in a thick, ice cold soybean soup — always makes an appearance in the summer months. Grab a refreshing bowl before fall hits.

4008 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
(323) 931-0007
(323) 931-0007

Ichimi Ann Bamboo Garden

1618 Cravens Ave, Torrance, CA
Cold soba noodles from Ichimiann
Cold soba noodles from Ichimiann
Matthew Kang

The soba noodles at Ichimi Ann Bamboo Garden are made from scratch and beloved for its pleasingly chewy texture. Nearly every menu item can be ordered cold, including the yuzu oroshi with its citrus broth, grated radish, and fresh shiso.

1618 Cravens Ave, Torrance, CA
(310) 328-1323
(310) 328-1323
Cold soba noodles from Ichimiann
Cold soba noodles from Ichimiann
Matthew Kang

Old Time Noodle House

15325 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA 90249
Chin naengmyeon, arrowroot starch cold noodles, from Old Time Noodle House in Gardena.
Chin naengmyeon, arrowroot starch cold noodles, from Old Time Noodle House in Gardena
Matthew Kang

Classic Gardena Korean restaurant Old Time Noodle House features a chin naengmyeon, or cold arrowroot starch noodle soup. The broth won’t be ice cold but rather chilled to refrigerator temp in a tangy, umami-rich broth. The slightly chewy arrowroot starch noodles aren’t as substantial as the more common buckwheat, though equally fun to slurp up on a hot day.

15325 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA 90249
(310) 327-3231
(310) 327-3231
Chin naengmyeon, arrowroot starch cold noodles, from Old Time Noodle House in Gardena.
Chin naengmyeon, arrowroot starch cold noodles, from Old Time Noodle House in Gardena
Matthew Kang

Otafuku Noodle House

16525 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA

Otafuku crafts two different types of soba noodles: the signature milky-white seiro soba and a darker kikouchi soba made of buckwheat flour. Both are served firm in a variety of cold preparations.

16525 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA
(310) 532-9348
(310) 532-9348

Yu Chun Chic Naeng Myun

3185 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Of all the naengmyeon spots in Koreatown, Yu Chun most closely resembles the kind of no-frills shops found in South Korean suburbs. Chewy noodles and a highly drinkable icy broth make this a favorite among naengmyeon neophytes and homesick Koreans alike.

3185 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
(213) 382-3815
(213) 382-3815

Myung Dong Kyoja

3630 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Try the jjolmyeon at Myung Dong Kyoja, which features chewy noodles, a slightly sweet gochujang sauce, julienned vegetables, and a hard boiled egg on top.

3630 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
(213) 385-7789
(213) 385-7789

The Corner Place

2819 James M Wood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

The Corner Place serves LA’s very best bowl of dongchimi gooksoo — an ice-cold noodle soup with a vinegary kimchi-based broth.

2819 James M Wood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
(213) 487-0968
(213) 487-0968

Steep LA

970 N Broadway Suite 112, Los Angeles, CA 90012

The shady courtyard at Steep LA in Chinatown is the perfect place to cool down and slurp up some cold noodles. The Lao Gan Ma soba salad, which is a seasonal special, comes with soba noodles and fresh pea tendrils tossed in a chile crisp-spiked sauce. Every bowl is topped with tea-marinated beef shank.

970 N Broadway Suite 112, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 394-5045
(213) 394-5045

Noodle Harmony

735 W Garvey Ave, Monterey Park, CA 91754

Stop into Noodle Harmony in Monterey Park for Sichuan noodles and Hunan rice noodle soups. Perfect for summer are the cold chicken noodles and the mung bean cold noodles. Pair them with any of the excellent appetizers, including pigs ears or the chilled tofu.

735 W Garvey Ave, Monterey Park, CA 91754
(626) 656-6562
(626) 656-6562

Yang's Kitchen

112 W Main St, Alhambra, CA 91801
Cold sesame noodles at Yang’s Kitchen in Alhambra.
Cold sesame noodles at Yang’s Kitchen in Alhambra.
Cathy Chaplin

Leave it to chef Chris Yang to hit it out of the ballpark with a dish as deceptively simple as sesame noodles. The version served at Yang’s Kitchen is made with Semolina organic spaghetti, Persian cucumbers, pickled carrots, crushed peanuts, cilantro, scallion, and a sesame sauce that’s wonderfully balanced and even better with the house-made chile crisp.

112 W Main St, Alhambra, CA 91801
(626) 281-1035
(626) 281-1035
Cold sesame noodles at Yang’s Kitchen in Alhambra.
Cold sesame noodles at Yang’s Kitchen in Alhambra.
Cathy Chaplin

Golden Deli Restaurant

815 W Las Tunas Dr, San Gabriel, CA 91776

Vietnamese bun is always a good call on a hot day, but for those looking to try something else, the banh hoi — woven noodle sheets topped with proteins and served with fish sauce — is equally compelling.

815 W Las Tunas Dr, San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 308-0803
(626) 308-0803

Lao Xi Noodle House

921 S Baldwin Ave Ste G-H, Arcadia, CA 91007
A bowl filled with thick cuboids made from potato starch with cucumbers and chile oil.
Hun yuan cold jelly at Lao Xi Noodle in Arcadia.
Cathy Chaplin

The fantastic hun yuan cold jelly at Lao Xi Noodle is just the thing on a hot summer day. Dig into a bowlful of bouncy potato starch cuboids submerged in sesame paste, vinegar, and chile oil with a heap of julienned cucumbers. The cold jelly is unexpectedly light with an unforgettable vinegary bite. 

921 S Baldwin Ave Ste G-H, Arcadia, CA 91007
(626) 348-8836
(626) 348-8836
A bowl filled with thick cuboids made from potato starch with cucumbers and chile oil.
Hun yuan cold jelly at Lao Xi Noodle in Arcadia.
Cathy Chaplin

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