National Noodle Day is Oct. 6, and we’re glad to give noodles some much-deserved recognition. Noodles are the true team players of the food world. They soak up the flavors in sauces and stir fries. They add substance to soups and spring rolls. We could go on. Instead, we’ll just leave you with these six local noodle entrees to help you celebrate this underrated food holiday.
Clear Noodle Soup at Saigon Noodles
Noodle soups are a staple in Vietnam—and we’re not just talking about pho. Originally from Cambodia, hu tieu is one of pho’s lesser-known cousins. Find it on the menu at Saigon Noodles as Clear Noodle Soup. Get it combination style—with shrimp, barbecue pork slices, quail eggs, pork meat patties and cellophane noodles. Lime wedges, green onion, cilantro and chives pack a punch of fresh flavor. Crispy fried onions top it all off.
Pad Thai with rice noodles at Thai Kitchen
Pad Thai is street food in Thailand—and we wish it were as common here, too. Thai Kitchen makes this traditional meal with stir-fried rice noodles, egg, ground peanuts, scallions and bean sprouts, all infused in a sweet-and-sour vinegar sauce. Get it with your choice of chicken, beef, pork tenderloin or shrimp, or keep it vegetarian with tofu.
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Wasabi Gras with gluten-free noodles at Southfin Southern Poké
Southfin Southern Poké makes gluten-free eating easy and exciting. You can get gluten-free noodles (made from sweet potato starch) as the base for any of the restaurant’s poké bowls. The noodles are especially good with the Wasabi Gras bowl: shrimp, gulf tuna, seaweed salad, cucumber, sweet onion and avocado. Shoyu sauce and wasabi honey mayo give it a little sweetness; pickled ginger and pickled jalapeño give it a kick.
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Bun bo hue with vermicelli rice noodles at Bảo Vietnamese Kitchen
Meet the dish that Bao Vietnamese Kitchen is calling the new pho: bun bo hue. This traditional noodle soup is nothing new in Vietnam, but its popularity may be on the rise stateside. Bao Vietnamese Kitchen makes its version with pork, beef and lemongrass broth; vermicelli (a thicker rice noodle); beef shank; pork belly; cha lua (called Vietnamese ham); cabbage and bean sprouts. It’s a little saltier and spicier than pho but just as comforting and filling.
Seared New York strip steak with somen noodles at Kalurah Street Grill
Kalurah Street Grill has been showcasing some Asian cuisine flair lately—and proving that noodles can be a stand-out side dish. K Street tops somen noodles (thin Japanese noodles, similar to angel hair pasta) with slices of seared New York strip steak, sugar snap peas and carrot ribbons. The noodles are steeped in a lemongrass-curry broth—the sous-chef’s grandmother’s recipe. For those who prefer fish to steak, the restaurant’s new fall menu also includes a tuna and somen salad.
The Hangover with ramen noodles at Umami
If you’re ready to graduate from instant ramen, order The Hangover at Umami. It’s a generous serving of fresh Japanese ramen in a spicy, savory, salty miso broth with marinated pork, shiitake mushrooms, seaweed, soft-boiled egg and scallions. Add just a pinch of house-made chili oil, and this ramen dish will really rouse your tastebuds.