ZZAMONG via IG @zzamongrestaurant.
Few choices are tougher than picking between a bowl of noodles or a fiery seafood soup. This dilemma is at the heart of the Korean-Chinese food restaurant Zzamong, a fusion cuisine eatery that has become an L.A. staple.
At a time when dining out keeps getting more expensive, this Koreatown spot stands out for doing the opposite. Their black bean noodles come in at under $7, a price that feels almost unheard of today.
“I’ve always believed you have to keep prices low, make the food come out fast, and make sure it’s good,” says David, the owner. David grew up in the neighborhood, where spots like this meant you could grab good food with friends and not stress about the bill, and he brought that philosophy to his own spot.
The essential Korean-Chinese food trio
The experience centers around three core dishes. First is jjajangmyeon, a bowl of thick, chewy noodles covered in a dark, savory sauce. The sauce is made from chunjang (a black bean paste), diced pork, and vegetables.
Its counterpart is jjampong. This crimson, spicy noodle soup is loaded with seafood like shrimp, mussels, and squid. The hearty broth gets its kick from gochugaru (Korean chili flakes), balanced by the sweetness of onions and cabbage.
The third pillar of the meal is tangsuyuk. This dish consists of deep-fried pork pieces, crispy on the outside and tender inside, served with a sweet-and-sour sauce.
The beloved strip mall spot is also known for its fire challenge: order either noodle dish at the highest spice level (“RIP”), finish it solo in under 30 minutes, and your meal is on the house! Polaroids of past winners line the walls, giving the otherwise no-frills space a bit of personality.