After trekking through a Korean market, asking multiple people for directions and seeing some really unique produce on the way, I was met with delicious aromas coming from Mimi Noodle, located in the back of the Hannam Chain Market World in Diamond Bar.
The restaurant that opened over the summer serves Korean comfort food which includes dishes like noodles, dumplings and stews. It was my first time eating Korean food, so I was overwhelmed by the variety of dishes that Mimi Noodle offered and turned to a Korean friend who recommended the Galbitang ($19.99), a beef soup that includes short ribs, noodles and a clear broth. She also recommended the Dumpling Soup ($19.99),which includes broth and roughly six pork dumplings. Two types of kimchi, white rice and a portion of greens that were similar to collard greens came on the side.
While sitting with my mom, we were amazed by how kind everybody in the restaurant was. Each person we passed by greeted us with a smile. It truly felt like a place where people can bond over their love for the food that they enjoy. After around 15 minutes of waiting, our order was called.
Upon receiving our food, we smelled sour, savory aromatic scents all coming from the two plates that we ordered. My mom and I were stunned at how just two dishes could have such a mouthwatering impact on us. The first of the two dishes that we tried was the Dumpling Soup.
Unfortunately, I’m not skilled enough yet to use the chopsticks that the restaurant provided so I used a fork to carefully place the soft dumplings into the warm broth. I used my fork to break apart the delicate and chewy exterior of the broth-covered dumpling into two pieces and sampled a bite that included the dumpling, broth and white rice which had been served on the side. The bite felt like a warm hug, and I was immediately impressed. The meat in the dumpling had a perfect mix of the pork and onion inside of it. The savory flavors of each element worked perfectly, making the soup a true comfort meal.
The portion of soup was huge and was more than enough to feed me and my mom. Next, we moved onto the Galbitang. Upon first glance, the dish reminded us of a Mexican cocido, a stew that includes a variety of vegetables and meats. The Galbitang included the same tender beef used in a cocido that we are familiar with but was served as a short rib. Combined with the clear broth, and the kimchi and other greens which I decided to add into the soup, we realized that though similar, the two dishes were delectably different. Though the beef was tender like how it is in cocido, the kimchi was tangy and different from anything I had ever tasted. Regardless of whether or not I was familiar with it, its crunchiness and sour flavors were amazing. The greens were tart and added a soft texture to the stew which blended perfectly with the beef. Both portions of food were very large and just one of them could have fed two or more people.
As a picky eater, walking into such a welcoming atmosphere that the restaurant had, I was inspired to try new things that I usually wouldn’t. Although Korean food was out of my comfort zone, I enjoyed every dish that I tried. Given the delicious food and wonderful ambiance, I would rate the restaurant 5/5. I encourage anyone looking for a mouthwatering comfort meal to try Mimi Noodle.
