If you follow me for any short period on Instagram, you might already know that I'm obsessed with noodles. I could really slurp them up every day, and if I go for more than three days without eating any noodles, then I become a cranky and irrational noodle addict going through withdrawal. So I thought I'd share some of my noodle obsession with you and list where I've enjoyed going for my noodle fixes around the Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) area.
1. Rose's Noodles, Dumplings, and Sweets
They change their menu often but you can always find hand-pulled noodles and ramen here! I also hear they serve pho on their breakfast menu and can't wait to scope it out! I'm so impressed by this spot for getting Asian flavors down pact. They also have an extensive bakeshop that I need to further investigate. They blew me away with their mochi pound cake!
121 N Gregson St, Durham, NC 27701
https://rosesdurham.com/
2. Bida Manda
Next door to and the sister restaurant of my favorite restaurant, Bida Manda specializes in Laotian fare. I am in love with the crispy pork belly noodle soup at Bida Manda. I went here twice (I would go more often if it was closer to me!) and couldn't bring myself to stray from the crispy pork belly noodle soup. Luckily for me, my friend let me taste their Pad Thai. Yum! Their crispy rice wraps are also a fun appetizer!
222 S Blount St, Raleigh, NC 27601
http://bidamanda.com/
3. H-Mart
My mom is so happy to hear that there is an H-Mart in my new state! She often shops at H-Mart in Houston and funnily enough, H-Mart just expanded to Austin, my last home, last week! My Austin friends have reported lines around the block with this new expansion. I have a soft spot for Asian supermarkets with food courts and H-Mart has a solid food court. Pictured above is a Duck Noodle Soup. I keep dreaming about this bowl. I must make my own dream come true soon.
1961 High House Rd, Cary, NC 27519
http://nj.hmart.com/
4. Broth (located in Morgan Street Food Hall)
Broth wins for best ramen I've ever had served in a cardboard bowl! They're located inside the bustling Morgan St. Food Hall in Raleigh. It's one of my favorite spots inside the food hall and really enjoyed their tonkatsu ramen. Next time I'm going to try their Kimchi Ramen!
411 W Morgan St, Raleigh, NC 27603
5. M Kokko
Expect a line when you visit M Kokko, but if you are patient you'll be rewarded. Their ramen has been my favorite in the area so far! The broth is rich where Dashi's feel like it could be richer. The pork chashu is so tender and perfect. Oh, and there's a vegan noodle soup that inspires food envy. They also have an amazing fried chicken sandwich worth checking out!
311 Holland St b, Durham, NC 27701
https://www.facebook.com/MkokkoDurham/
6. Szechuan Taste
I will always associate Szechuan Taste as the place of comfort I ran to after I received my first speeding ticket in North Carolina. They serve authentic Szechuan style food, which means high spice levels. I loved it. I had the dan dan noodles and the red chili dumplings. I wish I lived closer so I can go more often!
6404 Tryon Rd, Cary, NC 27518
7. Mekong Vietnamese Cuisine
I recently went to Mekong Vietnames Cuisine on a date with Sugarface for the first time for my 35th birthday. Mekong Vietnamese Cuisine has comforting pho, banh mis, and grilled meats and rice dishes. I sampled my usual order of brisket pho (pho chin), summer rolls, and grilled pork banh mi. All good and Sugarface and I both spoke of returning! I like that the banh mis are served with freshly fried shrimp chips.
2121 TW Alexander Dr, Morrisville, NC 27560
https://www.mekong-triangle.com/
8. Jujube
Jujube is a cozy little Asian inspired restaurant. Pictured above is their popular dinner dish, Bolognese (hoisin braised shredded pork, scallions, wide rice noodles). The flavors were very rich and they may ask if you'd like some rice to go with your noodles. I declined, but I think you should go for it! On point flavors but a tad salty. Mixing in some of the rice would have made it just right.
1201 Raleigh Rd L, Chapel Hill, NC 27517
http://www.jujuberestaurant.com/
9. Noodle Boulevard
I left my thighs in the photo above so you can get a sense of how huge the bowls at Noodle Blvd are! Though M Kkoko has my favorite ramen, Noodle Blvd may be my favorite ramen establishment due to lack of line and having a bigger ramen selection than M Kkoko. I'm especially fond of their Chicken Curry Ramen. I get it spicy!
919 N Harrison Ave, Cary, NC 27513
http://noodleblvd.com/
10. Pho Vietnam
I always get the same thing when I order pho, so I judge my pho restaurants by the Pho Chin (beef brisket pho.) Of the five pho restaurants I've tried, Pho Vietnam is my favorite so far! It came down to how tender their beef brisket is here compared to other popular places.
Multiple locations
Website defunct at time of writing
11. Rasa Malaysia
I like that there's a Malaysian restaurant in Chapel Hill, my new hometown. Rasa Malaysia gave me my first experience of the traditional Malaysian dish, Roti Canai (not a noodle dish). My favorite noodle offering from Rasa Malaysia is Penang Char Kay Teow (pictured above). The noodles have an amazing texture and smoky flavor. They also have noodle soups and other noodle stir-frys, including Drunken Noodles and Pad Thai.
410 Market St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
https://www.rasamalaysiach.com/
12. Ni Asian Kitchen
Speaking of Malaysian food, whenever I have an appointment in Raleigh, I try to stretch my time to make the long drive more worth it. After a recent drive, I found a strip mall gem called Ni Asian Kitchen. They had a couple of Malaysian dishes on their menu and I ordered my favorite, the Char Kway Teow. I wish it had fish cakes in it but it still hit the spot during my last solo lunch date.
8817 Six Forks Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615
http://niasiankitchen.com
13. Swasadee
Swasadee is one of my weekday lunch date spots I have with Sugarface. It's close to the UNC campus and I LOVE their Drunken Noodles. Their wide noodles have a soft but not overcooked texture. I get it with tofu!
110 N Columbia St, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
http://www.sawasdeechapelhill.com/
14. Bua Thai Cuisine
Speaking of Drunken Noodles, it's my favorite Thai dish and I can really write an entire list of where to find Drunken Noodles in the area. On this list, I would definitely list Bua Thai Cuisine. I also really like their Pad See Ew!
5850 Fayetteville Rd., Ste 101, Durham, NC 27713
https://buathaidurham.com
15. Red Pepper
This hole-in-the-wall establishment owned by an adorable older Asian couple is just down the street from me. Sugarface and I come here fairly often. I'm quite fond of their Beef He Fen.
16. Dashi
Dashi is a beloved ramen shop in Durham. I want to work myself through their non-ramen menu items because though their ramen is good, it's not necessarily my favorite. They do have an expansive menu for ramen so I may just have been hitting the wrong bowls! Of the ones I've tried, I recommend their tonkatsu. Eventually, I want to do a green tea dessert tour of the area and hear Dashi has a green tea pound cake!
415 E Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC 27701
http://www.dashiramen.com/
17. Taste Vietnamese
I'm always on the lookout for delicious pho and am sad to report it's been hard to find more than a handful. I quite liked Taste Vietnamese's pho and love planning visits here for lunch before flying out to Texas. (I fly to Texas a lot, and they're close to the airport!)
152 Morrisville Square Way, Morrisville, NC 27560
http://www.tastevietnamese.com/
18. Zanyu Asian Noodles
Is there anything more beautiful than Khoi Soi? I had such a delicious bowl of Khoi Soi from Zanyu Asian Noodles in Raleigh. I want to make my way through more of their menu! The owner lived in Asia and wanted to bring the flavors he loved while living there to the Triangle. What a noble cause. 
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