Chinatown Noodles

I participated in a chat session with Restaurant Critic and Drink Columnist for The Inquirer, Craig LaBan. Part of the discussion was on best places to eat in Chinatown, and a couple of his suggestions struck my fancy. Both are noodle houses (and who doesn't love a good homemade noodle?). I've been dreaming of noodles since, like actually having dreams about them.

First, Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House. If you spend a lot of time in Chinatown, you'll recognize this sign even if you've never been in. Per LaBan's suggestion, I got the Noodle with Pork Soy Sauce over shaved noodles:

Watch your mouth because it is hot tamales when it first comes out, but you'll burn your tongue anyway because you can't wait to eat it. It sort of smells like beef stroganoff, which is perfectly fine by me. The noodles were great- chewy, soft and of all different sizes and thickness. The pork on top looks like ground beef but it's not. It was very flavorful with the saltiness of the soy.

My partner in crime got the Oxtail Noodle Soup with Shaved Noodles. The broth was very light but really good. The oxtail fell right off the bone as it should. And of course, the noodles were divine. We also got the Marinated Duck "appetizer."

I say "appetizer" because it's a whole half a duck and a lot of meat. The meat was good, moist and came off the bones easily. This particular waterfowl was marinated in some sort of soy sauce from what I could tell. It wasn't overly fatty which was nice. I guess I'm so spoiled with crispy duck (Peking Duck), so this was not the highlight of my visit to be honest.

Next, let me bring you to a Ramen Noodle house, Terakawa Ramen . My lord the ramen in this country has come a long way since my college days.

I cannot resist a good bun, so I ordered the pork buns as an appetizer.

It was awesome. The pork was cooked nicely and I only wish there was room in the bun for more. It was a little odd having a bun filled with lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumber, but it was refreshing and added a crunch. The sauce was your basic spicy mayo (like in a sushi shop). This would make a most delightful snack for any time of the day.

I wasn't that psyched about getting ramen for lunch because I usually don't care that much about noodles soups in general, unless it's cold out. But seriously, this was the best soup I've ever had. I couldn't stop giggling it was so good.

I got the Tan Tan Ramen, which is described on the menu as "Spicy miso and chicken broth soup with sesame paste, tapped with minced pork, bean sprouts and chopped scallions." I can't describe the broth with words, it's really something you have to try in order to understand. They simmer their broth for two days, so the flavors that are extracted are amazing. This one was spicy (not that spicy though) and sweet all at the same time.

Here is another picture where you can actually see the noodles. These are 100% homemade and you can tell.

They can make your noodles any way you wish (firm, al dente, soft, etc..) and can recommend different broth types to suit your mood, cuz they're so smooth.

I also tried the Chicken Curry Udon Noodle Soup and that broth was like no other. Intense flavors like the Tan Tan, but with a distinct curry tastes. I didn't get a picture because I was way too busy eating and spilling my ramen all over myself.

Alla Spina

'Twas July of 2012 and it was hot. A friend was visiting and we needed to stay in the neighborhood, as not to parish from the extreme temperatures. I went ahead and consulted Yelp and came across the Alla Spina menu. Mostly, the location was intriguing, since I could not picture much at the corner of Mt. Vernon and Broad St. We took the trek, and thank god, because it's now one of my favorite spots.

You can sit at the bar (with alarge, rotating selection of beers on tap, including daily flights), get a table (make a reservation well in advance if it's a weekend), or in the lounge area (see pictures below).

Seems you can order up some enchanting board games to keep you occupied while your stomach grumbles, and mouth waters from the smells.

If games aren't your thing (and let's face it, they're not for everyone), order a brew and watch the TV while you wait.

Now let's talk menu- they always have specials, and lately they have consisted of an entire pig's head for two, or a pork shoulder for two (never had, very intriguing). A few of the items I have tried:

Pig Pot Pie- not much explanation needed. A flaky pastry crust on top of pork and veggies in gravy. Caution: It's a tad on the salty side, so order up lots of water.

Homemade Pretzels and Spicy Beer Cheese- this is a staple any time I visit. The pretzels are perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. The beer cheese is also really good, and don't worry, they now give you a larger dish of it. The cheese itself is mild so it goes well with the salty pretzel, yet has a spicy kick.

Porcini Deviled Eggs- I can't stop ordering these either. Half of the inside is a regular deviled egg yolk and the other is a porcini mushroom puree. These are so good, and the insides are extremely smooth and creamy. The best part is the sea salt you'll notice sprinkled on top.

"Schisola" Polenta Stuffed with Taleggio Cheese- Fantastic. The polenta was cooked well, but not crispy on the outside at all. The inside just oozed with Taleggio. I don't know exactly what the sauce was, but who even cares.

Pig's Head Bruschetta- Um...I will never go back there and not get this. I can't believe it took me so long to try it. The bread was good I think, but I wasn't really paying attention. The pig's head was melt in your mouth crispy on the edges, the rest of the meat very tender. It had some sort of fruit marmalade on it also, which added a nice sweetness. They are very generous with the pig's head meat, so I even took some and put it on the polenta to add some salty flavor.

Don't forget they also do raw oysters of many varieties. Check the black board for what they have that day.

Other non-pictured items I've devoured: Maple Glazed Fried chicken with Mozzarella Curd Mashed Potatoes, North Philly Sausage Cheesesteak on a Pretzel Roll, and Housemade Pickles. All three are pretty self explanatory, and breathtaking.

Protip: They have happy hour every day from 4:30-6:30pm and again from 10:30pm-12:00am (Fri-Sat 11:30pm- 1:00am). Snacks and drinks are cheaper (these change depending on the day):

(Example) Alla Spina Happy Hour

Food Deals

oysters $1.5ea
pretzels $3
bbq or salt and vinegar chips $2
beef fat french fries $3
porcini deviled eggs $2
salumi misto $6
mortadella hotdog $6

Drink Deals

all drafts $2 off
brooklyn lager cans $3
peroni bottles $4
negroni $7
wine $7

7