Know Your Noodles

Tina Wu | Summer Intern

Everybody loves noodles, and here at FoodieTrip, we are no exception. We also believe that there is a significant difference between noodles, and amazing, mouthwatering, better-than-grandma’s noodles. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite types of amazing, mouthwatering, better-than-grandma’s noodles from all over the world, along with different places you can get your hands on them. If you are someone prone to mixing up your noodles - worry not! Here’s your guide to guarantee you never confuse your noodles again!

1. Ramen

   Where it’s from: Japan

   • What it is: Although the origins of ramen are unclear, its drastic increase in popularity serves to prove that ramen is a force to be reckoned with. Believe it or not, ramen does not always come in individually plastic packages with dried powder and questionable veggies on the side. Traditional Japanese ramen, on the contrary, is served hot, delicious, savory. With both broth and noodles cooked to perfection, nothing beats a bowl of hot ramen at the end of a day - perhaps at the end of a day filled with exploring Japan with a local?

   • Where to get it: Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta, 1F Plateau Saka 1-14-1 Sugamo, Toshima, Tokyo

2. Pad Thai

   • Where it's from: Thailand

   • What it is: Picture this: you’re working hard on a Thursday late night, and you start craving some delivered food. Before you pick up the phone to order some General Tso’s chicken, consider this: flat noodles stir fried in delicious sauce with shrimp, eggs, and greens, with a touch of lime and chili pepper. If you’re salivating the way we are, then you need some Pad Thai. Coming to us from Thailand, Pad Thai is the perfect go-to for both comfort and class - delicious enough to make your forget all about General Tso and his chicken. Don’t believe us? See for yourself.

   • Where to get it: Pad Thai Ekamai, Sukhumvit 63 Soi 19, Thailand

3. Pho

   • Where it’s from: Vietnam

   • What it is: Feelin’ the sniffles coming on? Fear not - pho is here to save the day! In a clear, delicately flavored broth, pho noodles are flawlessly and are perfect for curing anything from a runny nose, to cold fingers, to the Monday blues. Pho noodles are thin and easy to digest, and a spray of lime with some assorted herbs on the side make pho an unmissable treat. In Vietnam, pho is a breakfast food, but we’ve never believed in limits - help yourselve s to pho morning, noon, and night! If you’re officially in pho-u nky mood, check out how we can help you out of your funk!

   • Where to get it: Pho Hoa, 260C Pasteur Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

4. Bibim Guksu

   • Where it’s from: Korea

   • What it is: On a hot and humid summer day, what better to top off an incredible, one-of-a-kind adventure in Seoul than some delicious cold noodles? Slightly spiced, with both fresh and pickled veggies, this dish will not only cool you down but could also count as your daily vegetable intake (probably). The noodles are traditionally made with thin wheat flour noodles and mixed in a special sauce consisting of red pepper, sesame oil, and soy sauce to create the ideal taste for a sweaty day.

   • Where to get it: Myeongdong Gyoja, 중구 명동10길 29 (본점), Seoul, Seoul

5. Zhajiangmian

   • Where it’s from: China

   • What it is: Beijing is well known for a variety of different things - its hidden alleys (which you can explore here!), its killer duck, the fact that it is home to the Forbidden city - and now you can add noodles to that list! Zhajiangmian is a traditional noodle from Beijing made with soybean paste and thick wheat noodles. What makes this dish so special is the sauce that accompanies it - made by stir frying meat and yellow soybean paste.Zhajiangmian is on the rise not only in Beijing, though, and it’s been ramen-ized and made available all over the world. But nothing beats the original - get them while they’re hot!

   • Where to get it: 老北京炸酱面大王, 56 Dong Xinglongjie, Beijing, China

This list got you hungry for authentic noodles? We’ve got just the thing to satiate your hunger - head to FoodieTrip to start your noodle adventure today!