Miru 8691 – CLOSED | Stoli The Foodie

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Miru 8691 is currently my favorite Japanese/Korean fusion restaurant in LA, a gem hidden away in a nondescript strip mall. This restaurant has an extensive menu ranging from sushi rolls to noodles to bibimbop to tacos & burritos to burgers and more. While many restaurants that have such large menus generally have mediocre food, this place beats the odds and delivers something unique and delicious each time at affordable prices– there are happy hour specials all the time as well as great lunch specials. Chef Miru Jung and his brother Calvin put their hearts in each dish and pay great attention to presentation and detail. The decor is clean and chiq, definitely a bit kitschy with LV patterned booths, plastic white tables and colorful lighting, reflecting the hip fusion food. The music is great too, they play dance, techno and house. It’s one of my go-to places when I am looking for fusion sushi, comfort food or to try something new as there is always something more to discover on the menu. It’s all about the food here, the restaurant has a very laid back vibe. The service can be a bit slow at times, but I can tell the owners care about their customers so just come with a bit of patience because the food doesn’t disappoint. I’ve been here many times and want to share the variety of items I’ve tried in my visits.

They have a nice drink menu with soju cocktails, beer, beer floats and sake. The image at the top of this post features the Yuso Mojito with yuza citrus, shiso, mint, lime and rhumbero. Here also is the Lychee Sangria ($8, HH $5) with lychee fruit floating at the bottom…

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And the beer float ($9) with mango ice cream…it’s like an adult root beer float…more delicious than you can imagine…

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It’s hard not to get too much food but here are some of the appetizers to choose from, like the popcorn lobster & scallop [half order] ($9).

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One of the must-get dishes here is the Calvin Fries ($12) with spicy tuna, tomato and melted cheese. These fusion fries have me coming back often when I am in search of comfort food.

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The happy hour menu is great for appetizers. Two of my favorite appetizers to get are the Mini Shrimp Udon ($5) and Bom Crispy Rice ($5/two pieces or $9 full portion). The Bom is Miru’s version of spicy tuna on crispy rice with jalapeno on top. The Udon is comes with tempura shrimp, soy broth, tofu and scallion.

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The soups are all very satisfying and can be a meal on their own depending on how hungry you are. Options vary from udon, ramen and pho… When the soup is brought out they pour the broth into the bowl at your table, another touch of presentation I enjoy. The Pork Belly Ramen ($12) before the miso broth is poured looks like a beautiful reef at the bottom of the ocean and has fried kimchi, tofu, enoki mushrooms, scallions, slices of pork belly and poached egg. The tender slides of pork belly mix with the flowing egg creating a harmoniously bowl of ramen.

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The sushi rolls, baked rolls and fusion rolls are always a surprise. They are unique works of art you ALMOST feel bad digging into, but are irresistible when they taste just as good as they look. Two specialties rolls here are FIRE (spicy tuna, jalapeno, garlic ponzu topped with seared albacore and crispy onions) and Shrimp & Lobster (shrimp tempura, crab, masago, mustard-soy in soy paper topped with lobster salad and avocado).

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The Rainbow Roll ($15) is a different masterpiece each time, it’s made at Chef Miru’s discretion.

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My favorite fusion roll is the Surf & Turf ($15). Just as the name describes it’s a spicy tuna roll topped with Korean bbq short rib, lobster and is garnished with crunch flakes, masago and sweet chili. While it may sound unusual to have meat on a sushi roll, the short rib is braised and melts right into all the warm flavors of this decadent dish.

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The sashimi is always fresh and an order of the yellowtail comes in salsa, ponzu and with jalapeno on top.

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Most notable are the BURGERS here at Miru 8691. One of my favorites is the Spicy Tuna Miru Burger ($12), another delicious fusion creation. The burger has a Korean BBQ beef patty topped with raw spicy tuna, roasted tomato, cheese, garlic aioli, Miru glaze and crispy onions. This burger is worth every last messy bite! The curly fries and spicy ketchup are a perfect side combo as well.

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When I was here last week they got the news that their OG burger [chili burger] was rated #1 on www.theburgerreview.com. Miru also sent out a sample of a new burger they may be putting on the menu for my friend and me to try, Kuro Burger. This is a play on a Vietnamese Bahn Mi sandwich, the burger consists of fresh cut “kurobuta” pork belly seasoned with “hamcho” salt, glazed with honey balsamic and miso mustard on bahn mi pickles on top of a Korean BBQ patty (served with sweet potato chips and curly fries). I definitely recommend trying one of the Miru Fusion Burgers.