Han But Sul Lang Tang
The Skinny: Han But is a Sul Lang Tang restaurant in Koreatown I’ve been going to for last tens years. It’s a hole in the wall that specializes in a Beef Soup that has your choice of Brisket, Flank, Tongue, Intestines, Tripe, Spleen, or all of the above. With each order of Tang(soup) you get a side of Ggakdugi (pickled Daikon), Napa Kimchi, and a bowl of Rice. And to help personalize the overall flavor of the soup, you get to add your own helping of Salt, Green Onions, and Red Chili Paste. It’s as good of a hangover cure as Phở.
The Good: The Sul Lang Tang at Hanbut is always good. It’s tasty, filling, and comforting, especially on a rainy day. The soup itself leaves collagen on your lips from all the bone marrow sucked out while stewing and any meat you order melts away easily as you chew. The Ggakdugi is aged just right, so it doesn’t have that offensive pungency you get from raw radishes. The regular Kimchi isn’t my favorite, but it’s not bad either. Han But is a no frills kind of place, you get in, eat well, and then get out.
The Bad: Nothing. Wished they served Soju though.
Would you come again? Does Geico commercials ask rhetorical questions?
More Info: Yelp | 4163 W 5th St. Los Angeles, CA 90020 | (213) 383-9499 | Mon-Sun 7 am – 10 pm | Cash Only
Extra: One street South of Han But Sul Lang Tang is a Cigar store that hand rolls their product on location. The place is called Leon Cigars and their prices range from 3 bucks up to around 7.
I went there for dessert.
– MJ
Lomita: Jang Mo Jip to Go!
The Skinny: Jang Mo Jip, which means Mother In Law House, is a small Korean restaurant in the City of Lomita that serves Kalbi Tang (short rib soup), Soon Doobu (tofu stew), Soondae (blood sausages), grilled meats and other hot pot stews. I ordered their Sul Lang Tang with beef and tripe to go.
The High: For 8 bucks you get everything you see in the pictures. That’s what great about soupy Korean food, it’s one of the easier kinds to contain and order to go.
The Low: The thing I love about Sul Lang Tang is the collagen and fat you get on your lips thanks to the long hours of ox tail bones being stewed and the marrow that gets pulled out. The Sul Lang Tang at Jang Mo Jip did have some of that effect but not even as close as Han But, my favorite Sul Lang Tang place in Koreatown. Their take on it was pretty bland, even with the use of the salt provided. I actually emptied the whole serving into half a bowl of what is seen in the soup container, but it didn’t make a difference. And even though there was no real taste to the tripe, it did have that tripey “back in mouth” action going on. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it wasn’t good either. The sliced beef that were also in it were tasteless and dry in texture despite being bathed in hot broth.
As for the Ban Chan, the Mu (Daikon Radish) Kimchi they gave needed more time pickling because it was offensively raw in pungency. The other Ban Chan selections were good though.
Would I come back again? Probably not, but if I am there again, I’ll probably try the Kalbi Tang instead.
More Info: yelp | 1824 Lomita Blvd. Lomita, CA 90717 | (310) 530-6017 | 8 bucks for Sul Lung Tang that comes with Ban Chan and rice…is a good deal!
– MJ
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