Very Fresh Noodles — Restaurant in New York

It has probably been a year or two since I last visited this place and it's still very decent and a good experience for someone who's looking for some above-average quality Asian fare. I have fond memories of my first time eating here and ordering the beef noodle soup; amazing comfort food, great tasting, and a nice warmth in the belly afterwards. Generous portion of noodles, vegetables and meat, from what I recall. So good that I made a last-minute decision to grab some to go before taking the bus back to DC.

This time, sadly, I felt everything was smaller, except the price. Maybe this colored my reason for also feeling that this was not the same great dish I had in the past due to the loss of value. The place looked nicer, renovated, with nicer equipment; but having grown up in the restaurant business, I'm well aware that such improvements in the kitchen can actually fundamentally impact the flavors of food -- for better or for worse. Given that I live in MoCo, Maryland with its great assortment of Asian dishes (including noodles), sadly, I don't find it compelling to visit as an out-of-town guest. But it's a great place for locals and I wish the place well!

Last, I don't say this to sound cynical, but I do appreciate the "No Tip" selectable option. Post-pandemic, and with wages where they are nowadays, I no longer tip for to-go orders for baseline service of just taking the order and preparing the dish (but always tip the waiter/waitress...

im not vegetarian but got the mock duck, dry (which means sauce instead of broth), mild as possible. it was still a little spicy, but not nearly as spicy as a taki chip, slightly spicier than doritos sweet chili chips. anyway it was one of the most delicious dishes i've ever had. extreme flavor in every item, the noodles were thick and chewy just how i like them. i wasn't pleased with the absurd prices but i had to try it and at least it was freaking delicious ($25 for dish and drink). Also, the phots are deceiving in that they look like small portions, portions are LARGE and enough to split so your meal comes to closer to $8 if splitting. I also got the tofu pudding drink and again the price was absurd but at least it was good, not good enough to ever spend the money on it again though. I will probably try the horchata though at least once. I went at around 3:30p on a weekday and there was no line.

update: their to go packaging can use some work, since it was a round container in a rectangular bag it tipped over. since it was a cardboard top without much of a locking mechanism it popped off. since it was cardboard it seeped...

Writing this review as I finish the final slurps of my Dan Dan Mian noodles (pictured). Oh. My. God. This is my new Chelsea Market favorite. Quick, cheap, delicious, and FUN dining experience. Let me elaborate... -Quick: Don’t let the line fool you. It’s NYC, there are people everywhere, and space nowhere. Crowds happen! I had 10+ people in front of me but ordered in under 5 minutes. Had my food in my hand in under 10 minutes. Cheap: $13 for a heaping portion of noodles, $5 for a taro bubble tea. Very reasonable! Delicious: Fresh and handmade noodles prepared (slapped!) right in front of your eyeballs. The flavors are indeed “hot and tingly”. I wish I could describe the tingles my tongue experienced while eating, it was crazy (and amazing)! Not a sensation you have when eating traditional American fare. Fun: I came here by myself, and really enjoyed my experience. To me, that’s the ultimate test of a restaurant’s vibe. Sit at the counter, watch the noodles get slapped, enjoy the bumping playlist, and take a few pics. Most people around here are tourists so strike up a conversation with...