After an adventurous day at the University of Chicago, we decided to eat at Noodles Etc located a close 10 mins walk away from the core of the campus. Unlike other schools we’ve seen, the University of Chicago didn’t seem to have a main food spot where restaurants clustered. Instead, they had little hubs in different areas of the school.
Even though it was pretty warm that day, we decided to go to Noodles Etc because it was a “Michelin guide recommended restaurant” so it had to be good right?
Noodles Etc offered a variety of noodle dishes from various Asian countries including Vietnam, Japan, China, Malaysia and Thailand.
Curry rice noodle with chicken
Although there were many options to choose from, I settled with the curry rice noodle with chicken. Unfortunately, it wasn’t very impressive. The curry was too coconut-y so you couldn’t taste any spices in it. With that being said, it also packed a spicy punch. The rice noodles in the dish were also very clumpy which made it hard to mix in with the curry and not very enjoyable to pick apart and eat. On the bright side, there was a good portion of chicken and veg!
Pad Se-ew
The Pad Se-ew was completely different because each wide strand of rice noodle was cooked well in the savory soy based sauce. There was also lots of broccoli and chicken in it to add different flavors and textures. It wasn’t the best Pad Se-ew we’ve ever had but it was pretty good considering that it wasn’t a spot that specialized in Thai food.
Quick bites
- big portions
- lots of menu options
- great for noodle lovers!
Read more about my Chicago adventures! Niu B Sushi & Robata, Slurp Slurp noodle, and Kung Fu Tea