Location(s): 171 1st Avenue b/w 10th and 11th St
Phone #: (212) 254 3500
Method(s): Eat in
Price Range: $$$
Food: A
Value: A-
Service/Atmosphere: A
Overall Rating: A
Let me start off this review by saying this: I am over-the-top obsessed with David Chang's restaurants, especially Momofuku Noodle ("Noodle"). It may actually be a sickness that doctors should invent a name for. Until about 6 months ago, every time I walked by and saw the crowd of people standing outside either this location or Ssam Bar on 13th & 2nd, I would scoff in that general direction and wonder why anyone would want to go to such a "crowded and trendy" place. Finally, when I decided to give it a try (of course I showed up on an off hour when there was no line), I was absolutely floored. Ever since that fateful evening it has been my go-to place for heady eats. If you have hesitations about how hectic this place can get, I would recommend either going for lunch (when it is usually not too crowded) or right when they open for dinner at 5:30.
What I liked
Where to begin? Pretty much every dish I've tried at Noodle has been incredibly tasty and unique. It is nearly impossible for me to choose a favorite since they are all so very good, but I will certainly give it a whirl.
As lame as it sounds, if I were to be forced to choose a favorite dish, I would have to go with their signature (and relatively unoriginal) dish, the Momofuku Ramen Bowl ($16). I have tried a good amount of different ramen places in NYC including the infamous Ippudo (which I love by the way -- review will be forthcoming), but I would have to say that Noodle takes the cake as the tastiest version. The sheer amount of pork shoulder in the broth is staggering, and that's before you even begin to discuss the tender pork belly, masterpiece of a poached egg, and all the other typical ramen ingredients (scallions, seaweed, fish cake, sarachi, etc).
Next up would have to be the Kimchi Stew ($18), which is certainly more unique than the Ramen Bowl. It contains a broth that is a scary shade of red (for fear of what it will look like coming out the other end), with delicious braised kimchi, more pork shoulder and (my favorite part) the rice cakes. If you have had Korean food before then you might be familiar with this style of rice cakes (as you can imagine Noodle's are a far superior twist to this, with a somewhat crispy exterior). If you have not had the pleasure of trying Korean food, the best way to describe these rice cakes is a doughy, somewhat gnocchi like cylinder of goodness (with the afore-mentioned crispy exterior). Be warned that the Kimchi Stew is massive and spicy. By the end of it my head was on fire and I could barely breathe I was so full. Extremely mouthwatering!
Last night, I decided to be adventurous and try a new dish: Chilled Spicy Noodles ($12) with Sichuan spiced sausage, spinach, cashews and don't forget the chili oil, which is certainly the overriding flavor of the dish. The first few bites of this dish are innocent enough, but by the time you get to the middle of it if your mouth and entire head will be numb due to the extreme heat of the chili oil. Despite this numbness, this dish is really tasty and I definitely recommend it. The mixture of the flavors of the sausage with the cashews and noodles is delicious.
The last main course I will comment on is the special Fried Chicken Dinner ($100). This feast requires a reservation which you would typically need 3-4 weeks notice for, and 4-8 people to split with. It is certainly worth the advance notice, because the massive plate they bring to the table contains two whole fried chickens, one korean style and the other southern style (with old bay seasoning to add some kick). They also bring mu shu pancakes and an assortment of veggies and sauces to compliment this incredible dish.
To comment on a few appetizers, the Roasted Rice Cakes ($10) and Smoked Chicken Wings ($9) are definitely worth ordering, but see below for the ultimate Noodle app.
Also worth mentioning is the soft serve ice cream dessert. They change up the (always interesting) flavors depending on the week or month, for example I have had olive oil/pickled cherry twist with a ritz/saltine cracker crust and a wine/cheese twist. They taste authentic and are similar to the flavors offered at Momofuku Milk Bar on 13th & 2nd Ave (review forthcoming).
What Could Use Work
I have not one complaint about this heavenly place (rare!).
Killed It!
Pork buns are another big fad over the past few years in NYC, culminating in the opening of Bauhaus in the LES which exclusively serves these delectable snacks (review forthcoming). In my humble opinion, there is no better pork bun in this great city than at Noodle ($9) (yes, even better than Ippudo's). You can also order these buns with chicken or shiitake mushrooms, but why waste your time? The pork belly served in these buns is extremely tender, and this saltiness combined with the cucumber and sarachi hot sauce is absolutely one of the best flavors of all time.
Method(s): Eat in
Price Range: $$$
Food: A
Value: A-
Service/Atmosphere: A
Overall Rating: A
Let me start off this review by saying this: I am over-the-top obsessed with David Chang's restaurants, especially Momofuku Noodle ("Noodle"). It may actually be a sickness that doctors should invent a name for. Until about 6 months ago, every time I walked by and saw the crowd of people standing outside either this location or Ssam Bar on 13th & 2nd, I would scoff in that general direction and wonder why anyone would want to go to such a "crowded and trendy" place. Finally, when I decided to give it a try (of course I showed up on an off hour when there was no line), I was absolutely floored. Ever since that fateful evening it has been my go-to place for heady eats. If you have hesitations about how hectic this place can get, I would recommend either going for lunch (when it is usually not too crowded) or right when they open for dinner at 5:30.
What I liked
Where to begin? Pretty much every dish I've tried at Noodle has been incredibly tasty and unique. It is nearly impossible for me to choose a favorite since they are all so very good, but I will certainly give it a whirl.
As lame as it sounds, if I were to be forced to choose a favorite dish, I would have to go with their signature (and relatively unoriginal) dish, the Momofuku Ramen Bowl ($16). I have tried a good amount of different ramen places in NYC including the infamous Ippudo (which I love by the way -- review will be forthcoming), but I would have to say that Noodle takes the cake as the tastiest version. The sheer amount of pork shoulder in the broth is staggering, and that's before you even begin to discuss the tender pork belly, masterpiece of a poached egg, and all the other typical ramen ingredients (scallions, seaweed, fish cake, sarachi, etc).
Next up would have to be the Kimchi Stew ($18), which is certainly more unique than the Ramen Bowl. It contains a broth that is a scary shade of red (for fear of what it will look like coming out the other end), with delicious braised kimchi, more pork shoulder and (my favorite part) the rice cakes. If you have had Korean food before then you might be familiar with this style of rice cakes (as you can imagine Noodle's are a far superior twist to this, with a somewhat crispy exterior). If you have not had the pleasure of trying Korean food, the best way to describe these rice cakes is a doughy, somewhat gnocchi like cylinder of goodness (with the afore-mentioned crispy exterior). Be warned that the Kimchi Stew is massive and spicy. By the end of it my head was on fire and I could barely breathe I was so full. Extremely mouthwatering!
Last night, I decided to be adventurous and try a new dish: Chilled Spicy Noodles ($12) with Sichuan spiced sausage, spinach, cashews and don't forget the chili oil, which is certainly the overriding flavor of the dish. The first few bites of this dish are innocent enough, but by the time you get to the middle of it if your mouth and entire head will be numb due to the extreme heat of the chili oil. Despite this numbness, this dish is really tasty and I definitely recommend it. The mixture of the flavors of the sausage with the cashews and noodles is delicious.
To comment on a few appetizers, the Roasted Rice Cakes ($10) and Smoked Chicken Wings ($9) are definitely worth ordering, but see below for the ultimate Noodle app.
Also worth mentioning is the soft serve ice cream dessert. They change up the (always interesting) flavors depending on the week or month, for example I have had olive oil/pickled cherry twist with a ritz/saltine cracker crust and a wine/cheese twist. They taste authentic and are similar to the flavors offered at Momofuku Milk Bar on 13th & 2nd Ave (review forthcoming).
What Could Use Work
I have not one complaint about this heavenly place (rare!).
Killed It!
Pork buns are another big fad over the past few years in NYC, culminating in the opening of Bauhaus in the LES which exclusively serves these delectable snacks (review forthcoming). In my humble opinion, there is no better pork bun in this great city than at Noodle ($9) (yes, even better than Ippudo's). You can also order these buns with chicken or shiitake mushrooms, but why waste your time? The pork belly served in these buns is extremely tender, and this saltiness combined with the cucumber and sarachi hot sauce is absolutely one of the best flavors of all time.
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