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A gray ovular bowl on a white surface filled with cold sesame noodles at Yang’s Kitchen in Alhambra.
Cold sesame noodles at Yang’s Kitchen in Alhambra.
Cathy Chaplin

17 Highly Slurpable Cold Noodles to Keep Cool This Summer in LA

Korean naengmyeon, Japanese soba, Vietnamese bún, and more

by Cathy Chaplin and Matthew Kang Updated
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Cold sesame noodles at Yang’s Kitchen in Alhambra.
| Cathy Chaplin
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. Los Angeles restaurants are well-versed in the art of cold noodles, offering Korean naengmyeon, Vietnamese bún, Japanese udon and soba, and more. Here now are 17 highly slurpable renditions to fend off the hot days ahead.

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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

Also featured in:

Chong Qing Special Noodles

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There are two very good options for those in search of Sichuan-style cold noodles at Chong Qing Special Noodles in San Gabriel. The first is the Chongquing cold noodle which includes toothsome wheat noodles in a nutty sauce slicked with chile oil. The second is the pleasantly gelatinous “spicy and numb cold jelly” that makes for a light main or a shareable appetizer.

708 E Las Tunas Dr, San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 374-1849
(626) 374-1849
A white dish on a speckled surface filled with spicy and numb cold jelly at Chong Qing Special Noodles in San Gabriel.
Spicy and numb cold jelly at Chong Qing Special Noodles in San Gabriel.
Cathy Chaplin

Golden Deli Restaurant

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Vietnamese bún is always a good call on a hot day, but for those looking to try something else, the bánh hỏi — 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:

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 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
A gray ovular bowl on a white surface filled with cold sesame noodles at Yang’s Kitchen in Alhambra.
Cold sesame noodles at Yang’s Kitchen in Alhambra.
Cathy Chaplin

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:

Lee Ga

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The teeth-chatteringly-cold naengmyeon noodles from Lee Ga stand out in a crowded Koreatown market for its scratch-made buckwheat strands and rich-tangy Pyongyang-style broth. Also terrific are the hard-to-find jengban naengmyeon coated in a spicy-sweet sauce with sliced vegetables, beef, and raw fish.

698 S Vermont Ave #106, Los Angeles, CA 90005
(213) 674-7288
(213) 674-7288

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

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:

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:

Marugame Udon

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Marugame Udon has expanded in the past few years with four locations in and around Los Angeles. The Sanuki-style nikutama bowl 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
A white takeout bowl on a wood surface filled with nikutama at Marugame Udon.
Nikutama at Marugame Udon
Matthew Kang

Also featured in:

Yabu

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This West LA sushi spot also serves 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
A metal soba machine making noodles at Yabu in West LA.
Scratch-made soba at Yabu in West LA.
Yabu

Mỹ Lai

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It’s a build-your-own bún situation at Mỹ Lai, a burgeoning chain of fast-casual Vietnamese restaurants from Shad Davis and Traci Phan Davis. Rice vermicelli bowls can be topped with a choice of protein including grilled chicken, beef, pork, or tofu. While a fish sauce vinaigrette is the most traditional, the tamarind vinaigrette makes for a tangy pick.

12222 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 439-2259
(310) 439-2259

Old Time Noodle House

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Old Time Noodle House, a classic Gardena Korean restaurant, serves stellar chin naengmyeon (cold arrowroot starch noodle soup). The tangy and umami-rich broth is chilled to refrigerator temperature and paired with slightly chewy arrowroot starch noodles.

15325 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA 90249
(310) 327-3231
(310) 327-3231
A metal bowl on a checkered red table cloth filled with arrowroot starch cold noodles at Old Time Noodle House in Gardena.
Chin naengmyeon at Old Time Noodle House in Gardena
Matthew Kang

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:

Ryla

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Find cold sesame noodles with shredded chicken, cucumbers, pickled carrots, crispy garlic, Sichuan peppercorn oil, and cilantro on Ryla’s weekend brunch menu. Slurp up a bowl of tongue-numbing goodness and wash it all down with bottomless mimosas.

1220 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
(424) 247-9881
(424) 247-9881
A white bowl with a brown trim on a white surface filled with cold sesame noodles at Ryla in Hermosa Beach.
Cold sesame noodles at Ryla in Hermosa Beach.
Ron De Angelis

Also featured in:

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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
A beige melamine bowl of cold soba noodles from Ichimi Ann Bamboo Garden in a brown broth with garnishes.
Cold soba noodles from Ichimi Ann Bamboo Garden.
Matthew Kang

Also featured in:

Here's Looking At You

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The well-composed small plates at Here’s Looking At You always have a way of adding a creative and unexpected twist to a familiar dish. The cold soba noodles, dressed in pickled shiitake vinaigrette and topped with sesame seeds, scallions, roasted mushrooms, and plenty of nori, do just that.

3901 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 568-3289
(213) 568-3289
A tan bowl filled with noodles and a heap of dried seaweed at Here’s Looking At You in Koreatown.
Cold soba noodles at Here’s Looking At You in Koreatown.
Here’s Looking At You

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Lao Xi Noodle House

921 S Baldwin Ave Ste G-H, Arcadia, CA 91007

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

Chong Qing Special Noodles

708 E Las Tunas Dr, San Gabriel, CA 91776

There are two very good options for those in search of Sichuan-style cold noodles at Chong Qing Special Noodles in San Gabriel. The first is the Chongquing cold noodle which includes toothsome wheat noodles in a nutty sauce slicked with chile oil. The second is the pleasantly gelatinous “spicy and numb cold jelly” that makes for a light main or a shareable appetizer.

708 E Las Tunas Dr, San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 374-1849
(626) 374-1849
A white dish on a speckled surface filled with spicy and numb cold jelly at Chong Qing Special Noodles in San Gabriel.
Spicy and numb cold jelly at Chong Qing Special Noodles in San Gabriel.
Cathy Chaplin

Golden Deli Restaurant

815 W Las Tunas Dr, San Gabriel, CA 91776

Vietnamese bún is always a good call on a hot day, but for those looking to try something else, the bánh hỏi — 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

Yang's Kitchen

112 W Main St, Alhambra, CA 91801

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 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
A gray ovular bowl on a white surface filled with cold sesame noodles at Yang’s Kitchen in Alhambra.
Cold sesame noodles at Yang’s Kitchen in Alhambra.
Cathy Chaplin

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

Lee Ga

698 S Vermont Ave #106, Los Angeles, CA 90005

The teeth-chatteringly-cold naengmyeon noodles from Lee Ga stand out in a crowded Koreatown market for its scratch-made buckwheat strands and rich-tangy Pyongyang-style broth. Also terrific are the hard-to-find jengban naengmyeon coated in a spicy-sweet sauce with sliced vegetables, beef, and raw fish.

698 S Vermont Ave #106, Los Angeles, CA 90005
(213) 674-7288
(213) 674-7288

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

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

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

Marugame Udon

2029 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Marugame Udon has expanded in the past few years with four locations in and around Los Angeles. The Sanuki-style nikutama bowl 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
A white takeout bowl on a wood surface filled with nikutama at Marugame Udon.
Nikutama at Marugame Udon
Matthew Kang

Yabu

11820 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064

This West LA sushi spot also serves 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
A metal soba machine making noodles at Yabu in West LA.
Scratch-made soba at Yabu in West LA.
Yabu

Mỹ Lai

12222 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066

It’s a build-your-own bún situation at Mỹ Lai, a burgeoning chain of fast-casual Vietnamese restaurants from Shad Davis and Traci Phan Davis. Rice vermicelli bowls can be topped with a choice of protein including grilled chicken, beef, pork, or tofu. While a fish sauce vinaigrette is the most traditional, the tamarind vinaigrette makes for a tangy pick.

12222 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 439-2259
(310) 439-2259

Old Time Noodle House

15325 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA 90249

Old Time Noodle House, a classic Gardena Korean restaurant, serves stellar chin naengmyeon (cold arrowroot starch noodle soup). The tangy and umami-rich broth is chilled to refrigerator temperature and paired with slightly chewy arrowroot starch noodles.

15325 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA 90249
(310) 327-3231
(310) 327-3231
A metal bowl on a checkered red table cloth filled with arrowroot starch cold noodles at Old Time Noodle House in Gardena.
Chin naengmyeon at 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

Ryla

1220 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Find cold sesame noodles with shredded chicken, cucumbers, pickled carrots, crispy garlic, Sichuan peppercorn oil, and cilantro on Ryla’s weekend brunch menu. Slurp up a bowl of tongue-numbing goodness and wash it all down with bottomless mimosas.

1220 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
(424) 247-9881
(424) 247-9881
A white bowl with a brown trim on a white surface filled with cold sesame noodles at Ryla in Hermosa Beach.
Cold sesame noodles at Ryla in Hermosa Beach.
Ron De Angelis

Related Maps

Ichimi Ann Bamboo Garden

1618 Cravens Ave, Torrance, CA

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
A beige melamine bowl of cold soba noodles from Ichimi Ann Bamboo Garden in a brown broth with garnishes.
Cold soba noodles from Ichimi Ann Bamboo Garden.
Matthew Kang

Here's Looking At You

3901 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020

The well-composed small plates at Here’s Looking At You always have a way of adding a creative and unexpected twist to a familiar dish. The cold soba noodles, dressed in pickled shiitake vinaigrette and topped with sesame seeds, scallions, roasted mushrooms, and plenty of nori, do just that.

3901 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 568-3289
(213) 568-3289
A tan bowl filled with noodles and a heap of dried seaweed at Here’s Looking At You in Koreatown.
Cold soba noodles at Here’s Looking At You in Koreatown.
Here’s Looking At You

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