Lapaba · Koreatown, Los Angeles
Lapaba: Koreatown's Italian-Korean pasta bar with a Bib
Two Osteria Mozza alumni opened an Italian-Korean pasta counter on Western Avenue in early 2026. By June the Michelin Guide had named it a Bib Gourmand. Order the corn agnolotti.
Lapaba opened on Western Avenue in Koreatown in early 2026. Chefs McKenna Lelah and Matthew Kim both cooked at Osteria Mozza, and their menu runs Korean flavors through Italian technique: kimchi supplì, bulgogi meatballs, radiatore with galbi jjim. The Michelin Guide added it in March, and in June it was named a Bib Gourmand, the guide's mark for cooking that is very good for the price.
A long, curved marble counter wraps the open pasta kitchen, and the plates are made for sharing. Sit at the counter if you can.
What to order
- Corn agnolotti. Time Out called it the quiet star of the menu.
- Kimchi supplì and bulgogi meatballs to start.
- Tonnarelli with lobster, or radiatore with galbi jjim.
- Pavlova with black sesame meringue for dessert.
- To drink: the rhubarb gin and tonic, or the Dalgona, a soju take on an espresso martini.
How to get in
- Dinner only.
- Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, 5pm to 9pm.
- Friday and Saturday, 5pm to 9:30pm.
- Reservations on OpenTable.
How we reported this
- Press coverage: https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/news/lapaba-brings-a-brilliantly-executed-italian-korean-mashup-to-koreatown-071326
- Press coverage: https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/news/these-six-l-a-restaurants-were-just-added-to-the-michelin-guide-032626
- Press coverage: https://palisadesnews.com/michelin-guide-2026-kato-elevated-to-two-stars-as-seline-and-four-more-l-a-restaurants-earn-first-star/
- Press coverage: https://hoodline.com/2026/07/koreatown-pasta-upstart-draws-night-owls-with-bold-korean-italian-mashup/
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