Korean Comfort Food
Located in Koreatown, Lee Ga is a place where you can enjoy a wide variety of Korean dishes, from soup and stews to boiled meats, ribs, and cold noodles. It’s a great Korean restaurant to visit when you’re craving warm home-cooked meals, with a broad menu selection that allows everyone to choose dishes that suit their tastes, even when dining in a group. We visited on a weekday evening, and the restaurant was already bustling with customers. By the time we finished our meal, there were people waiting outside for a table, which made it clear that this place is loved by many.
For our order, we chose a variety of dishes including half-and-half dumplings (meat/kimchi dumplings), Lee Ga soup, king rib soup, and assorted boiled meats, allowing us to enjoy both soup and meat dishes and experience a range of flavors all in one sitting. The side dishes served with the meal included radish kimchi, napa cabbage kimchi, and cucumber, with the cucumber side dish sometimes changing daily to include bean sprouts or radish. We could choose between white rice and black rice, catering to our preferences.
Lee Ga soup is a hearty bowl filled with rich and spicy beef bone broth, generous portions of beef, and leafy greens, delivering a deep umami flavor from the very first spoonful. The broth is not overly stimulating but has a subtle spiciness that keeps you coming back for more, and the meat is tender and has a pleasant texture. It was a satisfying bowl that warmed us up from the inside. The king rib soup featured a large rib bone that was visually satisfying, and the broth was clean and flavorful without being greasy. The meat was tender and easy to eat, pairing well with the glass noodles included in the soup. When craving a spicy broth, Lee Ga soup is a great choice, while the clear and clean broth of the rib soup is perfect for when you’re in the mood for something lighter.
The assorted boiled meats included a variety of cuts such as oxtail, knuckle, and brisket, topped with mushrooms, green onions, and chives, creating a visually abundant spread. Each cut offered a different texture, making it enjoyable to eat, and they were boiled cleanly without any off-flavors, allowing the natural flavors of the meat to shine through. The boiled meats are served without additional seasoning, based on a seolleongtang base, so you can adjust the flavor to your liking with salt or dipping sauce. Eating them with the accompanying kimchi made for a delicious experience without any heaviness, and it was a great dish to share among several people. The half-and-half dumplings we ordered featured both meat and kimchi dumplings, allowing us to enjoy both flavors. The meat dumplings were light yet juicy, while the kimchi dumplings had just the right amount of spiciness and a crunchy texture, making for a clean and impressive taste. Steamed to perfection, they had a soft and moist texture overall, making them a great side dish to accompany the boiled meats or soup dishes.
Lee Ga
It was a satisfying meal where I could enjoy a variety of flavors, from warm soup dishes to tender boiled pork and dumplings. The clean taste, generous portions, and diverse menu options come together nicely, making it possible to enjoy food that suits anyone’s taste, no matter who you go with. On a day when you’re craving hearty Korean food, how about leisurely enjoying a meal at Lee Ga located in Koreatown?
