Review: Mr. Noodle

For the first time in my 4-year UCLA career, I set foot into Noodle Planet’s arch-nemesis, Mr. Noodle. I would have stayed to sit in among the lime neon lighting, yellow and green walls, and a lonely flat screen TV that no one really pays attention to, but the small restaurant was completely packed with a waiting line.
 

I ordered to go at the counter area that doubled as a prep sta

tion and added to the overall chaotic, authentic noodle-house feel of the restaurant. A waiter even delivered a plate of noodles to a table while taking an order on the phone. That's pretty legit.  

However, Mr. Noodle's beef pad see ew leaves something to be desired. First and foremost, their rice noodles are about half as wide as normally used noodles. That's a big no-no in my pad see ew universe. Furthermore, although the noodles wholly maintained their shape, they were fairly wet and stuck together in layers doing that annoying thing where the outside noodles will be sauced, but the inside noodles are untouched and white.

Overall, the noodles, which really just turned into goop once chewed a couple times, held only hints of the sweet, see ew flavor, but not enough to really explode in your mouth. In order to really taste what Mr. Noodle is cooking up, you have to really shovel a lot of noodles into your mouth which isn't always the best way to enjoy pad see ew.

The only redeeming features to Mr. Noodle's pad see ew are the use of Chinese broccoli cooked delicately and some of the best pad see ew beef I've ever had. Tender, moist and marinated perfectly, the beef adds much of the flavor and sauce the noodles lack.

Despite the beef's nearly redemptive qualities, the best thing about Mr. Noodle's pad see ew is that it's next door to Westwood's famed cookie shop Diddy Riese. 

(Courtesy of diddyriese.com)

936 Broxton Ave

Los Angeles, Ca 90024

(310) 208-7808

Price: $7.50 + tax

Rating: 2 see ew bottles

Review: Cholada

The greatest thing about Cholada is that you would never expect to find amazing Thai food behind a neon blue shack on PCH facing some of Malibu's prettiest beaches. Are you kidding me? It's a blue shack named after a blended pineapple-coconut drink with a dirt parking lot you expect to find only in the Central Valley. Yet, the place is amazing.

The first time I came here was at night and the place was packed. As soon as you open the door to the restaurant that fits no more than 30 people, the strong smell of delicious Thai everything hits you in the face. The atmosphere in this little place is really great. Lots of character and situated just across the PCH from the beach.

I'll get to the Pad See Ew in a second, but no post about Cholada is worth mentioning without the note of their Golden Bags appetizer. Wonton skin is filled with a finely chopped shrimp/chicken mixture and tied into little Robin Hood-esque pouches, fried and served with a delicious tangy honey sauce. Although the plate holds 7 for $8.50, they're totally worth it for what might seem like a hefty price.

The Pad See Ew is one of the best I've had. The noodles are cooked to a delicate brown, but not to the point of utter mushy disaster. The overall dish is a wetter than Noodle Planet's, but not to the point where the noodles don't stick together. The sauce is noticeably sweet and hints of garlic stand out in every bite.

The beef is a little bit overcooked and slightly tough, but I like my beef thinner and able to fall apart in your mouth. Cholada's beef is a bit thick for my liking. 

My other rant about this Pad See Ew is the lack of Chinese broccoli and the use of regular, ol' American broccoli. I'm a big fan of traditional ingredients and, although the broccoli in this dish was cooked very nicely (not too crispy and not too limp), the dish gets a mark down for not sticking to its roots.

Overall, Cholada (and its food) is a delicious, fun place to eat. Traditional Thai in an atmosphere that is anything but.

18763 Pacific Coast Highway

Malibu, Ca 90265

(310) 317-0025

Rating: 4 see ew bottles