Four reasons why noodle joints are satisfying: 1) They serve communal food. 2) It’s one of the cheapest meal deals around. 3) The atmosphere is more fun than stuffy. 4) Its dishes will fill up the most hearty of appetites — any of the following beef noodle plates will comfortably feed two.
THE PLACE: NOODLES & COMPANY
2813 N. Broadway
773-661-0977
www.noodles.com
THE STATS: Japanese Pan Noodles with Sauteed Beef (regular portion), $6.95
THE COMMENTS: What you get: Udon noodles with broccoli, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, bean sprouts and topped with black sesame seeds. The verdict: Lovely plating displays crunchy veggies and hunks of beef. A soy glaze lightly covers the noodle just to the point where you could still taste the slurptastic udon. Great texture.
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THE PLACE: JOY YEE NOODLE
1335 S. Halsted St.
312-997-2128
www.joyyee.com
THE STATS: Chow Udon Noodle with Beef in Sate Sauce, $7.95
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THE COMMENTS: What you get: A big honkin’ plate of stir-fried udon with onions, scallions, bean sprouts and beef. The verdict: Sate is the cumin/turmeric-spiked sauce as popular in Southeast Asia as BBQ sauce is in Texas. On these smooth and chewy udon noodles, it’s fragrant and exotic.
THE PLACE: PENNY’S NOODLE SHOP
950 W. Diversey Pkwy.
773-281-8448
www.pennysnoodleshop.com
THE STATS: Pad Se Eu with Beef, $6.40
THE COMMENTS: What you get: Wide rice noodles with egg, broccoli and beef. The verdict: Everything seems to be a monochromatic dark brown, with the sweet soy glaze overpowering the delicate noodles.