Having recently taken an adventure trip to Cambodia to experience the culture and food of Southeast Asia, Beth and I have developed a strong affinity for Asian noodle soups and other spicy dishes. Whether it’s a breakfast of glass noodles and vegetables in chicken broth or a dinner of Ramon noodles in a beef or fish stock there is something very appealing to working the chopsticks and spoon while slurping up some spicy goodness.
Watching the morning news on Saturday, Beth caught a commercial — for the news — in which the weather reporter was talking about Detroit while in a new local restaurant. In the background, people eating noodles from deep bowls using chopsticks! Instant decision… we are going downtown for Sunday’s dinner!
Located just south of the city, Johnny Noodle King was almost a stand alone restaurant in a relatively commercial district on Fort Street. No traffic getting there, but the parking lot was nearly full.
We walked in, and immediately loved the place. A little rough around the edges, yet hip and clean. We quickly determined that we were probably the oldest people in the joint.
Perusing the menu, we found a great selection of Asian inspired noodle dishes and soups all at reasonable prices. We made our choices while enjoying some hot green tea on the cold fall night.
We ordered their bun de jour as an appetizer to split — a steam bun with porkbelly, jalapeños, hoisen and bean sprouts. Fantastic! By the well thought out combination of flavors, it was obvious that those who’ve created the menu were well rounded and trained chefs.
For our entrees, we chose the Pho Ga and the Pad Si U. The Pho Ga was a brothy noodle soup, subtle in taste with fresh flavors from the cilantro, basil and lime. I’m certain to have also tasted some ginger in there. The Pad Si U was bold and beefy with rich flavors of garlic and soy sauce. The thick rice noodles were al dente, but appropriately so. As Beth and I share most meals for the sake of variety, she ultimately preferred the Pho Ga, while I sided with the Pad Si U.
As a fresh concept dedicated to Asian inspired noodles, Johnny Noodle King is a terrific idea for a casual meal in a hip environment. Certainly worth the trip. For hours, location, and other information click here: JohnnyNoodleKing.com
