NOODLES: THE WORLD’S MOST COMFORTING FOOD

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Noodles: The World’s Most Comforting Food

BENJAMIN EPSTEIN @benjamin.epstein

Noodles—something wondrous happens when soft and firm ideally intersect. Chewy, supple, resilient; is there anything more satisfying? Thick or thin, round or flat, but always long, the staple has been refined by Asian cultures for thousands of years—and marvelous examples abound at South Coast Plaza. Slurpy Kurobuta pork fried noodles—handmade, liberally, lusciously coated in greenonion oil and a house-made soy sauce—are topped with napa cabbage, spinach and crisped succulent strips of pork at renowned Taiwanese dumpling destination Din Tai Fung. The nabeyaki udon with chicken at elegant sushi haven Hamamori Restaurant & Sushi Bar is a refined study in contrasts: large yielding noodles, crisped rectangles of tofu, colorful half-moon fish cakes—and delicate tempura, including lotus root and Japanese pumpkin for dipping.

An’s Famous Garlic Noodles has long been a signature at seductive AnQi by House of AN. Pairing the sticky, golden, decidedly garlicky and addictive noodles with exquisite roasted Maine lobster is a millennia matchup.

Hefty wheat noodles are kneaded and rolled as you watch at Marugame Udon. Toss its mentai kamatama udon—slightly poached egg, cod roe, dried seaweed and a special dashi-shoyu sauce— for a briny, sumptuous, carbonara-like experience.

Noodle dishes (left to right): Mentai kamatama udon at Marugame Udon. Kurobuta pork fried noodles at Din Tai Fung. Whole pan-roasted Maine lobster with An’s Famous Garlic Noodles at AnQi by House of AN. Nabeyaki udon at Hamamori Restaurant & Sushi Bar.