Noodle Theory

I really shouldn't be blogging at this time. I need to write a huge paper due tomorrow. But the meal I had last night is worth mentioning before I forget the details.

Last night, around 9pm. H and I were looking for a place to eat quickly before settling down with a movie. Noodle Theory opened up around the corner from my house not too long ago but it looked so... nice, with huge windows and track lighting. I had written it off as overpriced americanized noodles. Usually uses too much Asian spices and not enough of "the good stuff." Sort of like when people try to open up fancy Mexican restaurants. But H suggested it, so I went along with.

We were seated by a blond male with a faux hawk. I want noodle soup (I always want noodle soup) I had been craving won ton noodles from D&A earlier so this needed to meet certain standards of delicious to win me. There were only a couple choices for noodle soup, so I narrowed down between Grilled Salmon and Pork belly. The waitress suggested I get the Pork belly since it generally has more flavor. Okay, "I defer to your judgment" I told her. H ordered Chicken potstickers, as to not be too adventurous.

Faux Hawk came back with our food. Mine was served in this squarish bowl with a big pile of cold sprout salad of some sort. Underneath was several pieces of pork, which looked sort of like char-sui. H's potstickers looked golden and crisp and came with very spicy looking sauce, if sauce can look spicy that is...

Still a little peeved at the dressed up noodles, I took a bite of my salady stuff. Cold, I knocked down the stack of veggies and mixed it with my noodles. I took my chopsticks and picked up the a piece of pork. I bit off the end....

but I didn't really need to bite; it melted in my mouth like butter. I look up at H, who hasn't touched his potstickers yet. "H," I said, "you have to try this." He take the rest of the piece of meat in his mouth, he nods in approval. I do not offer any more of my precious pork. Each piece, wrapped in delicious mouth-watering belly fat, the slightest piece of actual muscle tissue within, a light sweet taste of sauce surround it. I tried to pace myself, eating small pieces with the also surprisingly delicious fresh ramen noodles, tender and firm, not like the kind you get in little bags. And the broth, a miso broth that was not too salty. At the end, I'm eating up the vegetables I was so concerned with before and hating myself for enjoying so immensely this posh little noodle shop.

By the time I'm finished with my bowl of noodles, I don't really care that I just ate half as much noodles for twice as much money as I would of if I had eaten pho. I don't care that the restaurant has sea foam walls or blue tiles. I didn't care that the lighting was dimmed for ambiance, I didn't care about anything. I just want another piece of delicious delicious pork belly.

*edit I forgot to mention the potstickers. Too much ginger for H, not terrible but not great.

Pho King on International in Oakland

Okay, laugh all you want.

This was my second time visiting this pho restaurant. I'm not sure if the pho is actually excellent or if it was the cold wet weather.

The broth is flavorful and the bowls are good sizes. I always get the large, I could probably do with a small. The meat is delicious and they give you plenty of it. As usual, the vietnamese meatballs were delicious.

The noodles at this restaurant are on the firm side. Not good or bad, I'd prefer a little softer myself.

I'd report on eggrolls, but they forgot to bring them by. At least they didn't charge us. It could've been an error in translation.

One problem with this place is that it always seems to be closed. It closes early, so perhaps we just come too late.

I can't really comment on the service since they seemed not to speak very much English. We told her we needed a minute and she stood there nodding for a minute.

Overall, not a bad restaurant if you are looking to eat early.