Chow Now: Cheu Noodle Bar

There’s something innately comforting about a bowl of steaming hot hand-torn noodles—especially when they’re coated in gamey threads of braised lamb neck and silky sweet pieces of soft dates.

Yes, my bowl of noodles from Cheu Noodle Bar may have cost twice as much as what they would have in Chinatown, but the quirky and delicious details in the dish made the price completely worthwhile. The noodles were thick, stretchy, and just sticky enough to hold onto the delicately spiced sauce without adhering to each other. And sharp bites of pickled mustard greens punctuated the otherwise sweet and savory bowl, giving it an addictively non-traditional Asian flavor.

And the black garlic chicken wings shouldn’t be missed. Their crunchy exteriors gave way to what was some of the juiciest chicken meat I had eaten in a long time. I recommend adding plenty of hot chili oil, but if you can’t handle heat then the mildly-spiced blistered shishito peppers served alongside cool lime slices and cilantro will be more up your alley.

So CHEU CHOW NOW at Cheu Noodle Bar!

– Chase Matecun