Sumptuous ooNoodles!

3 Super Spots In Berks County

BY MARIAN FRANCES WOLBERS & LISA LUU

Noodles are in vogue — but in truth, they’ve always been around and have a storied, extensive world history. These three noodle destinations offer wide variety and superior flavor choices.

By far a most authentic, truly Japanese-style ramen is “done right” at Takkii Ramen West Reading — a wonderfully cozy noodle restaurant with an inviting, golden-warm ambiance, animewall-artwork and blonde wooden tables and bar-counter akin to those in Hokkaido. Owner Uyen Nguyen and husband Alex Alfaro pride themselves on making deep bowls of four types of noodles whose aromas waft up enticingly as servers deliver them to your table. They do a brisk takeout business as well, with smartly crafted, ecologically wise takeout containers.

Definitely go to West Reading, though, to enjoy the atmosphere, and to try everything from edamame and gyoza to refreshing Boba drinks and noodles. The classic Shoyu Ramen is adorned with crisp sheet of nori lying near marinated egg halves, cuts of chashu pork, crunchy bamboo shoots, zesty scallions and a pretty piece of pink-and-white fishcake. The texture-rich noodles are prepared al dente in a savorysweet hot broth that embraces every single slurpy mouthful of long, chewy noodles. A personal wooden ladle helps you scoop up every bit. (Try the spicy version of this ramen, too.)

The Takkii Beef Ramen and Fried Chicken Ramen are also extremely popular. Each noodle dish uses different broths including pork, chicken and udon (long, fat noodles) broth. A vegetarian style uses mix-and-match toppings and gluten-free noodles. Beyond noodles, Takkii offers a much-beloved rice entrée called donburi: Unagi, Sukiyaki, Chicken Curry and more.