News: Death Cab for Vietnamese: Nick Harmer's Guide to the best Pho in Seattle

I know I've been neglecting this blog lately and I promise that I haven't forgotten about it. Truth is, I have a few reviews in draft, but I just don't have time to touch them up and post them. I've been busy watching lots of movies, taking lots of photos, and working on my new podcast.

However, today I read a noodle-related article written by the bassist of my favorite band, Death Cab for Cutie. In "Death Cab for Vietnamese", Nick Harmer writes about his top three favorite phở restaurants in the Seattle:

1) Than Brothers (516 Broadway East)
2) Pho Cyclo (406 Broadway East)
3) Cafe Pho (401 NE Northgate Way)

I've stated my complaints against phở restaurants in Seattle on this blog before, but that doesn't mean that there aren't any decent places to grab a bowl of the rice noodles. I have not been to any of Harmer's favorite restaurants before, but am now curious about trying them. If I ever do try them out, and get back to writing on this blog again, I'll be sure to share my experiences.

Nick Harmer's article can be read here on Drowned in Sound.

Review: Szechuan Noodle Bowl

Szechuan Noodle Bowl at 420 8th Ave South in Seattle, WA.

I've mentioned Szechuan Noodle Bowl on my personal blog quite a few times, but it's still necessary for me to post a review here. This restaurant is one of those hole-in-the-wall places with only eight tables located in Seattle's International District. But, sometimes those types of places can be the best. Read on to see how I really feel about Szechuan Noodle Bowl.

Read more »

Review: Samurai Noodle

Seattle is infected with phở. It's freakin' everywhere! Don't get me wrong, I like the Vietnamese noodle soup, but phở places have populated so much that it's hard to tell the quality of items served there. Where I work in Redmond has about nine phở shops alone, not including it being offered in our own company cafeterias. I compare phở restaurants to teriyaki restaurants; it used to be hit or miss, but now there's this huge in-between area where the food is just okay. I mean, you have all these places opening and having to compete with each other, which means they have to lower prices and, consequently, the quality of their food. And that's how I feel about phở places now. I've never had a bowl of it and gone "Wow, that's some really good phở!" Thus, I never crave it.

On the other hand, ramen places are few in the Seattle area, so the attributes of the ramen shops are higher. Enter Samurai Noodle, one of the most popular ramen restaurants in Seattle. The first Samurai Noodle opened up in Uwajimaya Village in the International District not too long ago, and a new one just opened last month in the University District. I went to the original International District location a couple weekends ago with my family and sister-in-law. Continue reading the review by clicking on "Read more" below the picture.

Samurai Noodle at the Uwajimaya Village.

Read more »