If we were going to be in Japan or some other Asian country when the New Year rang in, here鈥檚 what we would do:
Eat noodles.
Noodles symbolize longevity, so we鈥檇 eat loooong ones.
But, alas, we aren鈥檛 in Asia.
Still, it鈥檚 possible to get a noodle fix.
You could make your own (don鈥檛 break them 鈥 shorter noodles mean shorter life). We鈥檝e even provided a recipe.
Or you can check out a few of the places that know their noodles and do them well:
1 China Pasta House, 430 N. Park Ave., 623-3334, , 11 a.m.-9 p.m. New Year’s Day.
This nondescript restaurant next to a liquor store and behind a gated patio isn鈥檛 fancy. But it is good. Noodles are made from scratch daily and topped with all sorts of goodies, depending on what you鈥檙e craving. Our choice may well be pork 鈥 it鈥檚 suppose to represent prosperity.
People are also reading…
2 Dao’s Tai Pan, 446 N. Wilmot Road (722-0055) and 4206 N. First Ave. (888-2200), , 10 a.m.-8 p.m. New Year’s Day.
We are partial to the pho 鈥 rice noodle soup 鈥 here. The rich broth is loaded with noodles, scallions and basil, and you have a big choice of add-ons, such as steak, tripe or tofu.
3 Miss Saigon, 1072 N. Campbell Ave. (320-9511), 8225 N. Courtney Paige Way, Marana (579-8889), 250 S. Craycroft Road (269-6899), 47 N. Sixth Ave. (884-4778), 4650 W. Ina Road (572-6560). Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. New Year鈥檚 Day.
Speaking of pho, you can鈥檛 beat it at Miss Saigon. The savory broth is loaded with long rice noodles and choices that range from tofu to beef. We indulge even when it isn鈥檛 New Year鈥檚 Day.
4 Vina Vietnamese Street Food, 4230 N. Oracle Road, 270-7779. Open noon-7 p.m. New Year鈥檚 Day.
Vina Baguette gained a following as a food truck, so when owner/chef Linh Nguyen opened this brick-and-mortar restaurant, he had ready-made fans. You can get succulent pho here, but it鈥檚 the pad Thai that we often crave. The rice noodles are tossed in a sauce that is a little bit sweet, a little bit sour, and topped with your choice of items. We like the lemongrass chicken, ourselves.
5 Yoshimatsu, 2741 N. Campbell Ave., 320-1574, . Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. New Year’s Day.
Yoshimatsu used to have a sprawling restaurant across the street. This is much smaller. But just as good. The ramen can be made with a chicken, mushroom or vegetarian broth. Whichever you choose for the noodle soup, you鈥檒l find it loaded with lots of other delectables. And remember this: It鈥檚 polite to slurp your noodles in Japan. Slurp away 鈥 you don鈥檛 want to be rude now, do you?
