Posted by I discovered at a very young age that a delicious bowl of noodles was my happy place. Being born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley I know noodles. I love noodles. We Have Noodles in Silver Lake gets it right.
Silver Lake isn’t exactly renowned as a noodle haven. But at We Have Noodles, Darren’s Sayphrara team is redeveloping traditional noodle recipes like chicken pho and Khao Soi, making them their own in a way that still respects the origin of the dishes. This is not “fusion” but instead an innovative take on beloved street style noodles that work for both traditionalists and people trying Asian noodle for the first time.
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Walk into the 800 square-foot space and you’ll be greeted with a noise rock soundtrack, a menu on the wall and a modest counter where you order from. There’s light seating inside and on the patio, either offering a view of bustling Sunset Junction. Small plate options range from chicken karaage to black truffle dumplings depending on the season. You can also order from a rotating selection of beer and wine. Around six noodle dishes are offered each day including a Veggie Pho, Spicy Miso Ramen and a cold Green Noodle. Prices are reasonable and range from $5 to $15.
The day that I went in they offered Chicken Pho served in a large metal bowl with poached chicken breast and a poached egg, all topped by enticing aromatics, herbs, and pieces of crispy chicken skin. The portioning is more than enough for one person, but I recommend sharing so you can sample other dishes.
Another highlight is the Roasted Eggplant Nahm Prik served with root vegetable chips and refreshing crudite. If you like tom yum flavor like I do, the kick from this shared starter will keep you coming back for more.
Of the several dishes I tried at We Have Noodles my favorite was the cold Green Noodle, a bowl of spinach noodles dressed in light sesame oil, served with kale, fried broccolini, fried onions, green herbs and an assortment of green veggies. Mix it all together and you get a bite that is chewy, crunchy and complex. It’s a delight.
At We Have Noodles there are a handful of shared plates and noodle dishes on the permanent menu. Specials change regularly, and might include items like crispy duck khao soi, beef brisket and cumin lamb ribs, all currently available. On that note I’ll definitely be back soon to see what’s new.
Sayphrara, an L.A. native with Chinese, Vietnamese, and Laotian heritage, has a background in mostly in fine dining. He first opened his noodle business at Smorgasburg LA in 2016, with this brick-and-mortar spot popping in the heart of Silver Lake in 2017.
We Have Noodles takes over the space formerly occupied by Berlin Currywurst on the corner of Sunset and Hyperion right next to Pazzo Gelato.
We Have Noodles is located at 3827 W Sunset Blvd Suite C in Silver Lake.
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