Story and photos by Dee Davila
When considering a typical American college student’s diet, noodles are at the top of the list. They’re affordable and easy to prepare, making them a college dorm staple. What if you don’t want to cook after a long day of classes? Noodle Bar has you covered.
Noodle Bar is a family-owned and operated restaurant in Marina and Seasidethat has been serving affordable and delicious noodles for over 10 years. They do an array of Vietnamese and Vietnamese-inspired noodle dishes and even boba drinks to help wash everything down.
Immediately upon entering, you can hear and see the excitement and the movement from staff and patrons alike. The wonderful and familiar scents slap are also immediately apparent.
On a recent visit there, service was prompt and friendly. Staff immediately attended to the needs of every customer. They were also more than eager to explain the menu and go over personal favorites and best sellers.
At $10 a plate, the barbecue chicken noodle plate was fantastic and a killer deal. The chicken was cooked in such a manner that it retained its juiciness, yet still had enough texture to make it an enjoyable experience.
The shrimp eggroll was just as enjoyable and was handmade in the store. Texturally speaking, every layer of fried rice paper crunches satisfyingly. Furthermore, the homemade sauces and chili oil that accompany the eggrolls only help elevate the meal experience and truly make this an actual culinary expertise.
They also have offerings such as pho, a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup with an array of meats and a delicious broth.
The manager on duty, who identified herself as Lily, said, “We’re very affordable, made fresh every day. All our vegetables are fresh-cut every day.” No doubt that the fresh preparation contributes to the freshness and affordability of the noodles!
They are open every day, except Tuesdays, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. They are located at 215 Reservation Roadoad inside the Marina Village Shopping Center.
You can also find them in their Seaside location at 1944 Fremont Blvd from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday – Friday.
If fresh, healthy and affordable noodles are your thing, then there should be no doubt that Noodle Bar belongs on your bucket list, if it isn’t there already.
