When scouring Ventura’s vast food selection, it can be difficult to come across authentic Asian cuisine. While Ventura is typically known for their unique seafood creations, it has recently begun to expand to new heights with the establishment of Matna 1631, a small Korean restaurant located off of Victoria Ave. 

Opened on Jan. 30, 2024, it is a relatively new local restaurant known for their signature Tteokbokki, Korean-style ramen and Kimbap. Many have sought out to try their unique food, leaving the restaurant quite busy. Despite the rush, the service is very quick and efficient with no problem accommodating the large amount of hungry people. 

Their menu is small, but mighty, offering three different types of entrees all inspired by Korean street food. Some notable dishes include the Kimchi jjigae ramen and pork cutlet.

For those looking for a kick, the kimchi jjigae ramen is the perfect way to satisfy your tastebuds. The broth is very flavorful, made with a spicy kimchi base and topped with tofu, pork and kimchi. The tofu has a very soft texture that melts in your mouth with each bite. Although sparse, the pork was a nice touch to the meal and was surprisingly tender. The noodles and kimchi made for a flawless combination. This dish tends to be more of a medium to advanced level spice, so those who unfortunately can’t tolerate the heat of this dish might be out of luck. 

They do, however, offer five other flavors that are just as delicious. For those that aren’t looking for spice or soup, the pork cutlet is another mouthwatering option. As part of Matna 1631’s specials, it doesn’t disappoint. 

The dish comes with a large portion of deep fried pork loin served with rice and cabbage salad. The pork was crispy, yet tender, giving connoisseurs the ultimate bite, and the sauce added a nice sweet and savory touch to the already delicious pork. While the portion size was on the bigger side, it doesn’t leave you feeling heavy.

To go alongside the main dishes, is their signature kimbap and various sides. They offer three different kinds of kimbap, but their most popular is the beef kimbap. It comes in a large portion size and has a very aesthetic presentation. The beef was very flavorful and the roll overall had a great texture with a nice crunch.

Another unforgettable side is the spicy rice cakes, or tteokbokki. The dish comes with chewy rice cakes and chunks of fish cake, covered in a spicy tteokbokki sauce. Although the rice cakes were a bit on the chewy side, they still had a smooth texture and the sauce added a warm, but not too spicy, flavor. The dish also has the option to add toppings, such as melted cheese, which ties the side together well.

Not only have they outdone themselves with their main cuisine, but they also go above and beyond in their dessert section. Matna 1631 offers Korean shaved ice or bingsu. The strawberry flavored bingsu is one of their most popular desserts. Topped with sweet strawberries and glazed with condensed milk, the fluffy ice maintains the perfect texture for a light dessert at the end of a delicious meal or can even be shared on a hot summer day. 

Although a relatively new restaurant, they won’t disappoint so be sure to check out Matna 1631 when you’re craving something new!

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Audrey Yoong

The beef kimbap was also a popular dish. Kimbap is a Korean street food item that’s similar to sushi, but served without raw fish. Instead, it has seaweed, rice, bulgogi, carrots, pickled radish, cucumber and egg. It had a pretty big portion size and was presented on a cute little plate.