Help me eat noodles

April 19, 2023 9:09 AM

Help me eat noodles in Manhattan today.

I am currently at an academic conference at Columbia. It ends at 1. My flight home isn't until 9:30pm, and I want to eat some bomb-ass noodles before I head back to JFK. I'm planning on walking around the LES a bit when I get out, so answers in the immediate area get extra points. I'm also not picky about what kind of noodles, I just want them to be spectacular. Thanks!

posted by saladin to Travel & Transportation around New York, NY (18 answers total)

Response by poster: I'll add, I'd love not just restaurant recs but also dish recs as well!
posted by saladin at 9:13 AM on April 19, 2023

If soba noodles would fit the bill, this is my favorite soba place and puts you in the East Village when you're done. I personally would take the A or D from 125th to West 4th and walk a mile but ymmv.
posted by babelfish at 9:27 AM on April 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: For freestanding noodles, I would go just over the LES-Chinatown border to Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles (on Doyers St.).

For just a fun NYC-style meal that can incorporate noodles, go to Spicy Village on Forsyth for the Spicy Big Tray Chicken (note: not really that spicy).
posted by praemunire at 9:37 AM on April 19, 2023 [3 favorites]

Spicy cumin lamb noodles at Xian Famous Foods. There are a few locations - the one on Bayard in Chinatown is close to the LES.
posted by yarrow at 9:50 AM on April 19, 2023 [12 favorites]

Just logged into say XIAN FAMOUS FOODS but yarrow beat me to it!
posted by rachelpapers at 9:50 AM on April 19, 2023 [2 favorites]

My favorite ramen in the world is TORIBRO Ramen on 52nd. Go, go, go.
posted by lydhre at 9:51 AM on April 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

My favorite ramen place is Jin, at Broadway and 125th. Hand Pulled Noodle, at Broadway and 148th, is also great, in the Xian Famous Foods vein.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 10:01 AM on April 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: 2nding Tasty Hand Pulled Noodles and Xi'an Famous Food, both in Chinatown.
posted by Maecenas at 10:21 AM on April 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

Xi'an Famous Foods for sure.
posted by so fucking future at 10:49 AM on April 19, 2023

Response by poster: Thanks folks. I love Xian and that's my default in case no other suggestions beat it!
posted by saladin at 11:05 AM on April 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

I like Raku for udon.
posted by clockwork at 11:40 AM on April 19, 2023

Best answer: Xian is very good, but Tasty is more of an old-school experience, if you want to switch it up a little. Either will be a delicious meal.
posted by praemunire at 11:40 AM on April 19, 2023 [3 favorites]

Ivan Ramen in LES is excellent!
posted by rabbitbookworm at 12:28 PM on April 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

Also voting Xian, but if you've had it before and want something different I'll throw my hat in the ring with Spicy Village's brisket dry noodles, which are excellent.

Also Cocoron in LES which does killer Soba noodles with dipping sauce.
posted by windbox at 12:38 PM on April 19, 2023 [4 favorites]

Seconding Cocoron for soba.
posted by yarrow at 1:46 PM on April 19, 2023

Roast pork noodle soup from Great New York Noodletown.
posted by slogger at 7:59 PM on April 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

Great NY noodletown’s Singapore chow fun (not mei fun like most places do) is a classic for a reason.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 10:29 AM on April 20, 2023

Response by poster: Every answer was excellent, thanks so much y'all. I ended up going to Tasty Hand Pulled on Doyers because it was close to where my ramble ended and holy smokes was it good.
posted by saladin at 10:41 AM on April 20, 2023 [2 favorites]