Yesterday afternoon I had an amazing culinary adventure.
Two weeks ago I stopped by Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles, a noodle spot on Doyers St. in Chinatown. Doyers Street is probably my favorite NYC block. Besides it's charming look, which looks like a film set, it has one of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants (Doyers Vietnamese Restaurant), as well as one of my favorite cocktail lounges (Apotheke). And, after yesterday, one of my favorite restaurants in all of New York City: Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles.
When I went two weeks ago, I ordered a bowl of hand-pulled noodles with beef, tripe, and tendon ($5.25), as well as an order of pork and vegetable dumplings ($3.75). I was pretty much blown away by this noodle soup and could not stop thinking about it since I had left. I vowed to go back asap.
So, yesterday, I walked from my apartment on 46th street to Chinatown, with noodles on my mind. I got to Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles, which is nothing to look at; besides some mirrors and walls with pictures of fish on them, the decor is non-existent. But you don't go to Tasty for the decor, you go for the noodles- the best hand-pulled noodles I have ever had!
I ordered the dumplings again, (I am a lover of dumplings), and this time, instead of getting my hand-pulled noodles in a soup, I ordered them pan-fried, and topped with lamb (5.75).
The noodles are made to order, and as I sat and waited, I could see through the open door to the kitchen, the 19-year old kid making these noodles. It was an amazing show. This young chap rolling, twisting, and throwing dough into the air with determined concentration; a true art form.
As I waited though, who walks in, but my friend and Food Network Star Anne Burrell (http://www.foodnetwork.com/anne-burrell/index.html), and with her Guy Fieri (http://guyfieri.com/), another Food Network Star! This of course assured me that I know my shit and know my restaurants! I sad hi to Anne, as she and Guy sat down for a beer to watch this kid make the noodles.
My noodles finally arrived, and the generous and gracious waitress actually made me a sauce with the hot sauces and vinegar that were on my table, for dipping the lamb in. Just as my first time here, the noodles were amazing, the best I had ever had. I offered a taste to Anne and Guy, and they loved them too. I then did a small little magic show for them and two other customers in the restaurant. It truly was brunch and a show!
Then Guy decided he really wanted to learn how to make these amazing noodles, so he coerced the chef into teaching him, and I proceeded to take pictures of it all! It truly was an amazing culinary adventure.
After two meals at Tasty, it has become one of my favorite restaurants in all of NYC. Not only is it the best hand-pulled noodles in town, but for $5 to $6 a dish, this is an amazing bang for your buck! I recommend everyone to check this place out, even if you are not a fan of Chinatown or noodles, just go. You never know who you'll run into.
Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles
1 Doyers St. (bet. Pell St. and Bowery)
New York, NY 10013
212-791-1817