The Best Soups in Los Angeles

One of my favorite things to do during the colder months in LA is to meal-prep chicken noodle soup, freeze it, and enjoy it throughout the week. While chicken soup isn’t particularly difficult to make, it’s time-consuming and requires a lot of vegetable chopping. I’m not the biggest fan of cooking, nor do I always have three hours to spare on a Sunday.

While researching soups for this article, I noticed that everyone and their aunt raved about Souplantation, a place seemingly everyone had tried except me. Their chicken noodle soup kept coming up over and over again.

Founded in 1978, the beloved all-you-can-eat soup and salad buffet chain closed all its locations during the pandemic after 42 years in business. Since then, fans have been vocal about wanting it to return. Luckily for them, Souplantation is officially making a comeback, with its first California location set to reopen in Fountain Valley in 2027. And who knows? The chain might eventually make its way back to LA!

So, when the soup cravings kick in but I don’t feel like buying and chopping all those vegetables, where can I find the best soups in LA? I started my soup expedition last year, took a break, and picked it back up in September of this year. Whether you’re sick and looking for something comforting or simply looking for recommendations, I hope you enjoy them!

Rare Beef Pho from Pho 87

📍 Chinatown

I remember coming here on a Friday after work. It was a cold, rainy day, and even though it was almost 4 pm, it seemed like everyone had the same idea as me. The outside was completely deserted in the pouring rain, but inside, Pho 87 was packed. Thankfully, I was seated right away. I was particularly impressed by how smoothly everything ran, with bussers wheeling carts around the restaurant, serving food, tall water cups, and clearing tables at the drop of a hat.

There’s certainly no shortage of pho places in LA. I love ordering from my neighborhood spot just two blocks away, but after trying the pho at Pho 87, I’m converted. It’s all about the broth! It was rich, deeply aromatic, and packed with flavor, unlike anything I’d had before. It was so rich I completely forgot to add hoisin sauce. The thinly sliced rare beef cooks in the hot broth, becoming perfectly tender.

I haven’t been to Vietnam, but many people compare it to the pho you’d find there, and some even go so far as to say it’s the best pho in Southern California.

Chicken Noodle Soup from Chong Qing Special Noodles

📍 San Gabriel

This is my favorite chicken soup in Los Angeles, and it pains me that it’s so far away from Central LA. Did you know that Chong Qing Special Noodles was one of Los Angeles Times food critic Jonathan Gold’s regular spots? He was a fan of the Chongqing Noodles and You Po Noodles.

Located in a nondescript strip mall, Chong Qing’s specialty is its Chongqing noodles with eggs, bok choy, and a generous dose of heat that will clear your sinuses right up.

But for those looking for something lighter, the chicken noodle soup is a dream: fresh-tasting hand-cut noodles, tender shreds of chicken that effortlessly fall apart, a handful of bok choy, and a comforting broth that will leave you feeling satisfied and nourished.

Ginseng Chicken Soup from Buil Samgye Tang

📍 Koreatown

Ginseng chicken soup, known as samgyetang, is a traditional Korean dish widely praised for its restorative qualities. Its key ingredient, ginseng, has long been used in traditional medicine to reduce inflammation, support the immune system, and regulate blood sugar levels. Ginseng is also a popular ingredient in skincare! Interestingly, despite being served piping hot, the soup is traditionally consumed during the summer months in South Korea to help replenish energy.

For reference, here’s what the inside of a traditional samgyetang looks like.

The soup features a whole young chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, garlic, jujubes, and Korean ginseng roots. The broth is slow-simmered with medicinal herbs, astragalus root, and chopped green beans, among other ingredients.

It is served in a cast-iron pot, and it arrives at the table piping hot and bubbling. Since it’s served piping hot, you have to transfer the pieces little by little into the metal bowl to let them cool down!

I ordered the regular version, which they recommend for first-time visitors. However, I preferred the #3, which comes with goji berries, an excellent source of antioxidants, and which I ordered on my second visit.

The chicken is so tender that you don’t even need a fork. As if that weren’t enough, they also serve a nice selection of banchan (traditional Korean side dishes), including kimchi and radish, along with complimentary herbal tea! Another thing I love is that they provide metal buckets where you can throw away the bones, making for a hassle-free eating experience.

There are many places in Koreatown where you can get ginseng soup, but Buil Samgye Tang kept coming up during my research and seems to be one of the most popular. Another reason this has become one of my favorite places for soup is the wonderful staff, particularly Gaby. They’ll make sure to take care of you, and if it’s your first time, tell them! Gaby even served me more broth. She said that the goji berries soup was the most popular and that it’s usually the one people order when they’re sick. 

Duck Noodle Soup from Roasted Duck by Pa Ord

📍 Thai Town

When I went to the newly opened Chainsaw bakery last year in Melrose Hill, I did a brief interview with its founder, Venezuelan-American chef Karla Subero. If you haven’t tried her key lime pie, you’re definitely missing out! Among her favorite places in LA, she mentioned Roasted Duck by Pa Ord, where she said that she dreamed of the duck noodle soup and had it three times a month!  

Located in a tiny Thai Town strip mall, Roasted Duck’s interior is small, no-frills, and overall, not recommended for big groups. 

The duck noodle soup, as Karla said, was an absolute dream. The way the succulent duck, thin rice noodles, and thick bean sprouts came together in the impossibly flavorful and aromatic broth was magical. You have the option to make it as spicy as you want. Although I’m not a fan of spicy food, I highly recommend adding just a little heat to enhance its flavors.

Like most poultry soups, duck noodle soup is rich in protein, B vitamins, and hydration. Duck soup also holds a special place in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is traditionally used to nourish the body, replenish energy, restore balance, and support recovery from illness.

Japanese Plum “Ume” Soup from Otafuku

📍 Gardena

Since 1997, Otafuku has had the soba noodle game on lock. During my first visit, I ordered their plum soup, which is considered one of the best in Los Angeles. I wasn’t feeling great after eating something overly salty at another restaurant earlier that day, which left me with stomach cramps. Surprisingly, this soup made me feel better almost immediately!

The ume soup is served cold, which I actually enjoyed, although you can request it hot. The lovely lady who served me, however, recommended having it cold. The savory broth had deep umami flavors with subtle fermented notes, while their specialty buckwheat noodles had a delicate texture with just the right amount of chewiness. The fresh herbs, radishes, and okra added a refreshing crunch and a beautiful contrast to the richness of the broth.

If you’re familiar with umeboshi, you know these Japanese plums are not for the faint of heart, as they are extremely sour and salty! However, they’re packed with numerous health benefits, including antimicrobial properties. That’s why this soup was perfect: the sourness was much more subtle.

Japanese and family-owned, Otafuku’s other specialty is its tempura, which is usually ordered alongside the soba noodles. 

Chicken Soup from Kismet Rotisserie

📍 Studio City, Los Feliz, Culver City, Pasadena

If you can’t make the drive to the San Gabriel Valley, Kismet’s chicken soup is also one of my favorite soups in LA. I first tried it in 2021. The star of the show, besides the chicken, is its rich, lemony bone broth. Combined with celery, dill, carrots, and spinach (and don’t forget to add a little bit of rice), this soup is one of the best remedies for whatever might be ailing you. I tried it again this year at the Studio City location, and it’s still as good as it was when I first had it in Los Feliz years ago. The soup pictured above is the small size for $5, but the largest size costs $17.

Chicken Dumpling Soup from Gjusta

📍 Venice

In 2021, I tried the chicken dumpling soup from Gjusta, and to say that it was delicious is a huge understatement. I haven’t been back for the soup, but I’ll update this section once I do. Here’s a picture I took. It was rustic chicken soup perfection!

Beef Noodle Soup from Corner Beef Noodle House

📍 El Monte

There is a myriad of places in the San Gabriel Valley where you can find beef noodle soup, but after trying the one at Luyixian, my vote goes to Corner Beef Noodle House. The slow-simmered broth had a deeper flavor, and I preferred the texture of the noodles. The star of the show is the tender, fatty braised beef. But that’s not all! You can also customize your broth, noodles, and the spice level.

Chicken Noodle Soup from Heng Heng Chicken Rice

📍 Thai Town

This Thai-style chicken noodle soup comes with shredded preserved cabbage, shredded white chicken, white pepper, onions, and cilantro. That week, I had a slight cold. The broth is on the sweeter side and packed with herbs! It felt like I was drinking a comforting, medicinal broth. I kid you not, my cold symptoms improved right after having it.

The day I wrote this, I checked their online menu and it said ‘out of stock’! They do sell out for the day, so keep that in mind.

Lentil Soup from Panini Kabob Grill

📍 Hollywood, Century City, Downtown LA

Whenever I think of lentil soup, I think of my mother’s lentil soup in Spain. In LA, lentil soup translates to Middle-Eastern lentil soup, which is done differently. I tried two Armenian soups, both of which feature lemon as a key ingredient. As you saw in the Kismet section, I love a good lemony broth, but in the Armenian soups I tried, including the one at Elena’s Greek Armenian Restaurant in Glendale, the lemon was way too overpowering.

I was thinking of leaving lentil soup off the list, but luckily, I found what I consider to be the best lentil soup in LA. Of all places, it’s at the Persian-inspired chain Panini Kabob Grill. Although Spanish lentil soup is thicker because it’s a stew, Panini Kabob’s version took me by surprise. The broth was delicious and packed with flavor. The soup itself was hearty and loaded with plenty of carrots and greens. If only they had added some chorizo, it would have taken me straight back to Spain!

Japanese BBQ Chicken Ramen from Torisoba Sumiya 

📍 Sawtelle

Admittedly, I’m not the biggest fan of ramen. But what if, instead of pork, you could have it with charcoal-grilled chicken? At Torisoba Sumiya, the chicken is grilled right in front of you over an open flame. As you eat the ramen, the smoky, charred flavor of the chicken infuses the broth, adding a deeper layer of flavor. They even have the charcoal on display!

Note: As opposed to other soups on this list, this soup is great but feels quite heavy! For me, it’s more of an occasional indulgence. That’s why I would not recommend it if you’re sick. There are two sizes, regular and large, but the regular will leave you more than satisfied.

Thank you for reading! Happy soup hunting!