In search of a great bowl of soup....(this is a challenge!)

[cimero]

No Jewish delis please (not that they don't have good soup, they have great soup...but it's always pretty the same thing at most Jewish delis so that's why I'm leaving them out of this list).....where can a person get a great bowl of soup in the areas of Santa Monica to Beverly Hills, or the West Valley? I'm frustrated with too salty and too bland....help! I'll kick off with Le Saigon on Santa Monica Blvd, I just had a bowl of Pho Ga that was quite nice....delicate flavors and nicely tender pieces of sliced chicken. Not a hearty chicken soup, but a nice light soup for a warm summer day.

[J.L.]

The decidedly un-Kosher and sinfully rich pork broth at Santouka in West LA serves as home to heavenly curly ramen noodles also. Try it and become a disciple.

Santouka (in the food court at Mitsuwa Market)
3760 Centinela Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90066
[phone]

[jlevine]

The fish soup at La Serenata is very spicy and very delicious.

[nosh]

I believe Nook has a lentil soup always on the menu as well as another soup each day. They serve a cheddar cheese soup that is scrumptious.

Perhaps the best soup I've ever had in L.A. was a four-onion soup at the 17th Street Cafe up on Montana. Thick and creamy, intensely flavored, not at all like a french onion soup -- it was like sipping a sauce or gravy. Amazing. But that was several years ago... (It was the best single dish I remember having that year.)

[Diana]

I had a ginger carrot butternut soup at Hugo's that was AMAZING.

I also am a fan of Follow your Heart's great soups.

Gelson's has some a few great cold summer soups, Gazpacho, cucumber, strawberry mint, Melon and such.

the West Hills Gelson's has some great seafood soups near the fish section.

[mrshankly]

The French Onion Soup at Dougboys on either Highland or 3rd Street is by far the BEST French Onion Soup I've ever had... and I've tried MANY from around the country. Anyone who I've introduced it to (even people who are lukewarm about the type of soup in general... no pun intended) are instantly addicted. The quality of cheese, broth, and croutons is absolutely wonderful. While you're there, you have to get the Velvet Cake (their signature dish). You will not be disappointed.

Also, the hot and sour soup at City Wok in Studio City is to die for. This isn't your ordinary hot and sour soup... it has chicken, tofu, and bamboo in it with an amazing broth that is an instant favorite for anyone who tries it. Personally, I'm addicted to it during the winter days in LA.

[ozhead]

The duck-leg soup (I think it's #18 on the menu) at Ba-Le Valley, on DeSoto just north of Sherman Way -- which I would consider west Valley, I guess.

[westsidegal]

all the soups at shamshiri grill on westwood blvd just north of santa monica blvd.

[neobite]

Am currently obsessed with the herby, porky, unctuous deliciousness of the simple won ton soup at Ruen Pair.

[omotosando]

I really like the chicken soup at Bombay Cafe in West L.A. It's probably my favorite thing on the menu. I always ask for extra chiles in the soup.

[Towens]

The crab bisque at La Fritte in Woodland Hills is always great.

[WildSwede]

Posole @ Tonny's (Pasadena). Sopa de Lima @ Chichen Itza (LA). Pho Tai @ Pho 79 (Alhambra). Cocido de Res @ La Fiesta Grande (Pasadena). French Onion Soup @ The Raymond (Pasadena). Tortilla Soup @ Mijares (Pasadena) - some say it is oily, but I have not had that problem yet.

[SauceSupreme]

Here's a couple of topics for you:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/354022
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/415309

Eliminating Jewish delis, my top soups look like this:

1. Pho Dac Biet at Pho So 1 (Reseda
)2. After School Special Tomato Soup at Doughboys (Mid-City)
3. Crab Soup at The Hungry Cat (Hollywood). Also the FIsh Stew.
4. Steak Soup at Doughboys (Mid-City)
5. Sopa Azteca at Monte Alban (West LA) <-- best. tortilla. soup. ever.

-----
The Hungry Cat
1535 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Pho So 1
7231 Reseda Blvd, Reseda, CA 91335

Monte Alban
11927 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Doughboys
8136 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

[eatdrinknbmerry]

SauceS, i have to agree with 2,3,4!

[bodie]

A few thoughts:

Weirdly enough, I love the albondigas at Casa Vega more than anything else on their menu.

I adore Kyushu Ramen - a hole in the wall on Sherman Way. Due to proximity, I get my ramen fix in the SFV though I am confident Little Tokyo has better than my 'hood.

Definitely second Emme's rec on the Sopa Fideo at Tere's.

The chowda' at Providence.

The tortilla soup at Hotel Bel Air is superlative but for $14 bucks it should be.

Cauliflower Monsoon soup at Golden Bridge Yoga studio is excellent (and vegan too).

The tom yum at Krua is super-spicy and delicious.

[Diana]

I like the Chanpon at Kyu Shu-nice rich broth!

[asnyder]

Clementine's has pretty good soups, and they also sell refrigerated versions to take home

[michellemabelle]

I like the soup at Al Gelato on Robertson. They also make some good soups at Joan's on Third.

[Emme]

vegetable puree at delmonico's (not the best restaurant, but that soup is really good... love the blackened prawns, garlic spinach, and grilled corn too)

ivy for corn chowder

guelaguetza

lentil soup at carnival

grub's tomato soup

albondigas at mi india bonita

sopa de fideo at tere's

doughboys esp french onion

sopa de azteca at monte alban

toast

islands' tortilla soup

rambutan thai

literati cafe

[ns1]

the broth at daikokuya =D

[AdamFoodie]

best soup i've had is at Follow Your Heart in canoga park(west valley). I really hope you try the soup there, if you havent already

[a_and_w]

The Sopa de Azteca at Monte Alban is truly, truly, truly outrageous...

[PlatypusJ]

Le Petit Cafe in Santa Monica makes a mean French Onion Soup.

[hyacinthgirl]

The best soup I've had out here was a roasted red pepper soup at the Napa Valley Grille in Westwood. Just the perfect amount of creaminess blended into the peppery taste. I guess that's not ideal for stopping by and grabbing a bowl, but it is the best I've had.
Also incredibly good is the Avgolemono soup at the Great Greek on Ventura. I think that fits under West Valley. The lemon adds a needed kick to the usual chicken soup. If I were feeling ill, I'd want nothing but that soup.

[rds246]

The newsroom often has awesome soups. They change daily I believe. I know they have an offshoot, interim cafe, in Santa Monica. I've never been but I would guess that they also have soup...