Send Noods...

If you have a heaping plate of noodles, please send me a picture or (preferably) send them my way. Pasta comes in so many different shapes and sizes, and I love them all. Unlike most kids, my go-to order off of the kiddie menu wasn't chicken fingers or a cheeseburger; it was spaghetti with red sauce (hold the meatballs.) So, here is my adult list of the best places in Philadelphia to get oodles of noodles!

1. Terakawa Ramen 204 N 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

When in Chinatown, the options for good ramen are endless. But there's one place that stands out as not only having good ramen, but great ramen: terakawa. I can always judge a bowl of ramen by its golden yellow, creamy white or tangy black broth, and Terakawa's broth will have you holding the bowl up to your mouth and forgoing to spoon to imbibe every last drop. I highly recommend the pork belly, the most popular protein in ramen, which is so tender it will melt in your mouth. Don't be afraid to slurp their homemade egg noodles as loud as possible; it's a sign of respect and means you're enjoying the meal. Even Naruto would be impressed and probably order 40 bowls of the "terakawa ramen," my personal favorite.

2. Penang 117 N 10th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

I don't have Malaysian food every day, but I could probably have Penang every day and have no complaints. I can't remember for the life of me what these dishes were called, except that they had "mee" in them, but they made "me" one happy diner. The main difference between these entrees and ramen is that the noodles are thicker, the broth is darker, and the flavors are more powerful. If I ever have the opportunity to go to the city of Penang, I will definitely take it and see how much Philadelphia holds up to the real deal.

3. Stock 308 E Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125

If pad thai and pho had a baby, it would be the khao poon from Stock. Perfectly peanuty and perfectly soupy, this fusion of Thai and Vietnamese flavors is the most popular dish on the menu for a reason. The broth is made of coconut curry, so it's definitely got a little kick to it; I would stay away from this soup if you're afraid to try anything "moderate" on a menu.

4. Nom Nom Ramen 20 S 18th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Nom nom nom nom...that's the sound of me ferociously eating these noodles from Nom Nom Ramen. Fun fact: I went here with my boyfriend on our first date, and to his chagrin, I ordered the vegan ramen. No disrespect to vegans, but I discovered later that you are doing yourself a disservice if you order anything but the "nom nom ramen," with juicy pork belly, a rich broth and the aki bomb, which is almost literally an explosion of flavor in your mouth. Although Terakawa comes close, Nom Nom has my favorite ramen in the city, and I could eat it every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

5. Banh Mis and Bottles 712-14 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

It may not be in the title of the restaurant, but Banh Mis and Bottles' pho is second to none. They offer it in a small and large, which is really a misleading name and should be called large and extra large. You can even get a combo meal that includes a "small" bowl of pho and half of a banh mi, which is likely your best deal if you can't choose between the two. When I'm constructing my pho, I use all the hoisin and sriracha on the side, so my bowl is a bright orange color, but it's perfectly fine on its own too.

6. Sawatdee 534 S 15th St, Philadelphia, PA 19146

Pad thai is perhaps my favorite noodle dish. Thick rice noodles, peanut sauce with more chopped peanuts on top, fresh scallions and lime, chicken and tofu; is there a more exquisite combination? Not only is pad thai super filling, but it's also super cheap. Now, that's what I call comfort food. Move over mac and cheese. If you're a peanut butter addict like myself and could eat it straight from the jar with a spoon, then I guarantee you'll love pad thai too. Oh, and did I mention the entire restaurant is painted lime green?

7. Mac Mart 104 S 18th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Don't get me wrong though; I still crave mac and cheese all the time. And whenever I'm in a mood for this ooey gooey goodness, my first thought is Mac Mart, Philadelphia's first and only mac and cheesery. This may be an unpopular opinion, but breadcrumbs or potato chips on mac and cheese make it infinitely times better, and Mac Mart's mac has the perfect balance of creamy and crunchy. Each reusable container holds a pound of mac, but it's so delicious, you can't stop eating until it's gone. I am Mac Mart's self proclaimed number one fan; I've tried the Rittenhouse, barclay basil chicken, roasted red pesto, crabby mac, honey sriracha chicken and lobster mac (pictured), but my favorite is still the OG- the Rittenhouse (spinach and artichoke dip on top of cavatappi). Mac Mart also had shells for a limited time, and I hope one day they bring them back because I actually preferred them to the elbows!

8. Cheu Fishtown 1416 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125

Have you ever seen brisket, matzo and kimchi in a bowl of ramen before? I doubt it! This bowl has a bit of Jewish, Southern and Korean flare, but who would've known these different cultures would mesh together so beautifully. Cheu Fishtown, a "hip ramen bar" (as it is described by Google) on Frankford Avenue, used to be a stable, and while you can tell when you look at the door closely, I'm not "horsing around" when I tell you this is the spot to go to for quick, inexpensive and delicious food in Fishtown. I went three times in one month (one of which I ran into my best friend on a date completely unplanned), and as soon as they're open again, I plan to go back for the coconut curry ramen, which I talk about in more detail in Vegetarian and Vegan Alternatives. FYI- there is also another location in Center City!

Vietnam Restaurant 221 N 11th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

I know, I know, another Asian noodle restaurant. You're probably wondering why I didn't include any Italian pasta dishes, but that's because I talk about all of my favorite Italian restaurants in Fine Dining on a Budget, Restaurant Week September 2019, Restaurant Week September 2018 and Where to Splurge. If the line for Terakawa is out the door, go to Vietnam Restaurant (not to be confused with Vietnam Cafe across the street) a few blocks away in the heart of Chinatown for a bowl of pho that is bigger than your head and will make your eyes larger than your stomach. The bowl on the left is made with egg noodles- more traditional of ramen- lemon broth and chicken, whereas the bowl on the right has rice noodles and beef. However, both bowls are satisfying and cozy on a bitter cold winter night. If you can make room for dessert, I also highly recommend the coconut milk corn pudding; it may sound kind of gross, but it was unexpectedly scrumptious.