Best Asian Food in Los Angeles with Deana Saukam

@faimfatale lights the way to tasty Thai, Korean, Chinese and Japanese cuisine in LA

Words by Arden Shore 17 Jan 2018

Deana Saukam is a food writer and photographer who has mastered the noodle lift and has the Instagram shots to prove it. Although she’s based in LA, she is a bonafide globetrotter, having just returned from a food-filled ricochet from Shanghai to Tokyo to Hong Kong and back. Deana grew up in Houston, Texas and used to live in Austin—so yeah, she knows her BBQ—but we’re here today to uncover the best noodles, dumplings, sushi and curry in Los Angeles. If you’re curious about Chinese food specifically, Deana recommends you check out this PlaceList from her best friend Mei Lin, who casually won Top Chef in 2015. From Thai Town to the San Gabriel Valley, see where Faim Fatale finds her Asian food fix in greater Los Angeles when she’s not preoccupied with a plate of surf ‘n turf in the bubble bath.

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@faimfatale living her best life. Image courtesy of Nicolai McCray

Sapp Coffee Shop

East Hollywood, $

Deana Saukam: I am so fond of Sapp in Thai Town. They have really good crab noodles and I love every stir fry. The jade noodle is good and what they're known for too, so just go for it and get both.

Luv2eat Thai Bistro

Hollywood, $$

DS: I also love Luv2Eat Thai. I used to live around the corner and I would eat there five days a week, no exaggeration.Their jade noodles are also really good, but I love their crab curry. Ugh, that crab curry is on another level, but everything there is delicious. I get pad see ew there too because it’s one of those things I always order. Also, the hat yai fried chicken at Luv2Eat is perfect.

Pa-Ord Noodle

East Hollywood, $

DS: Pa Ord is great too. I already told you I love pad see ew, and I think this is the best in LA. There are multiple locations, but make sure you go to Suite #8. You have to go to the right one!

Shunji Japanese Cuisine

Sawtelle, $$$$

DS: I love Shunji for sushi near Sawtelle. Simply amazing.

Sushi Zo

Downtown, $$$$
DS: I also love Sushi Zo. I get hyped every time I go there. I love them. Best freakin' omakase.

KazuNori

Downtown, $$

DS: I love KazuNori too ... for sushi that's more casual.

Din Tai Fung

Multiple Locations, $$
DS: For Chinese, you can't go wrong with Din Tai Fung. Order the pork XLB’s, the noodles, the spicy wontons. They’re good. Oh and the pork fried rice. Those are all solid. Yum.

Newport Seafood Restaurant

San Gabriel Valley, $$
DS: Also I love Newport Seafood for—it’s kind of like a Vietnamese-Chinese style of seafood dishes. It’s amazing. Everything is good here, but you have to order the lobster.

Yu Chun Restaurant

Koreatown, $$
DS: I love Yu Chun for the cold noodles and the galbi combo.

Park's Barbeque

Koreatown, $$$
DS: Park’s BBQ is so freakin’ good. There’s a combo I love that has the flower cut beef galbi. It's got bulgogi and some other stuff I can’t remember, but it’s perfect. It’s good for two people, get a little bit of everything. I love the japchae and the kimchi stew.

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Sapp Coffee Shop courtesy of @whatcouldbebutter