Nancy Silverton-Backed Lapaba Blends Korean Flavors with Italian Pasta in Koreatown

Nancy Silverton is backing Lapaba, a compact pasta bar in Los Angeles’ Koreatown led by chef couple McKenna Lelah and Matthew Kim that intentionally blends Korean flavors with Italian pasta traditions. Lapaba will begin limited service on Jan 28 and move to a full opening on Feb 3, giving diners a new, shareable-pasta option on Western Avenue.

Lapaba, a portmanteau of "la pasta bar," emphasizes fresh pasta made on site in a dedicated pasta room. Small portions are calibrated for sharing so diners can sample multiple preparations in one sitting. Menu highlights include bucatini dressed in a black-bean (jjajang) Amatriciana, a cacio e pepe-inspired tteokbokki featuring tteok made in-house, agnolotti riffing on Korean corn cheese, orecchiette with gochugaru-flecked fennel sausage, and squid-ink calamarata with clams. These dishes aim to marry specific regional Italian techniques and shapes with ingredients and seasonings from Korean cooking.

Drink selections at Lapaba intentionally lean toward bottles the chefs favor rather than rigid pairings. The list mixes Italian and Spanish wines with Asian options such as soju, sake, and makgeolli, offering familiar bottles alongside options that pair naturally with the kitchen’s flavor twists. The restaurant’s design combines Italian materials with Korean folk-art touches, reflecting the menu’s dual influences while maintaining a clear nod to Italian pasta craft.

For the Koreatown dining scene, Lapaba represents a practical and approachable example of cross-cultural cooking. McKenna Lelah and Matthew Kim focus on preserving the structural and regional identity of Italian pasta dishes even when Korean components appear, which can make the menu accessible to traditional pasta lovers as well as diners seeking new flavor combinations. The compact format and small-plates approach encourage group dining and tasting, useful for date nights, group outings, or solo diners who want to try multiple items in one visit.

Lapaba is located at 558 S. Western Ave, Los Angeles. With on-site pasta production, a shareable-portion menu, and a beverage list that spans Italy to Korea and Japan, Lapaba gives Koreatown a new spot for pasta that respects both source cuisines. Expect to see the kitchen refine dishes through the limited-service period before the full opening, and consider booking early if you want to sample bucatini, agnolotti, or the tteokbokki in the first weeks.