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| - If there's one thing I LOVE, it's small, unassuming places where you walk in, not knowing what to expect, and wind up getting a meal that knocks your socks AND shoes off! Such is the case with 8 Noodle Bar, a place we've seen and passed by about a billion times, while on the way to one of the other dozen or so eateries at Red Rock. There have been times I've seen the crowds go through and kept the place fairly hopping, but I wasn't sure if it was the food, the drinks or the atmosphere.
Well, now that we've made our second visit, we know for sure. It's definitely 'all of the above,' but emphasis on the FOOD. A mix of Japanese and Thai cuisines, this place will become one of your neighborhood faves. It certainly fits that category for us now!
I cannot begin to rave enough about the apps. The gyoza - great little tender meat dumplings with a killer crispy outer exterior; the crispy egg rolls, piping hot and full of porky goodness complimented by fresh slivers of carrot, cabbage and other veggies - and the steamed short rib bao buns...MON DIEU!
It almost becomes too much to ask to save room for the 'main event' - your choice of several soup or noodle bowls. The Five Spice Beef with thin, juicy slices of tenderloin and fat, chewy Udon noodles, in a tasty broth with Chinese Five Spice as its main flavor booster...that's just ONE of the choices you have.
Our waiter, Bobby, expertly steered us through our first visit, and made some excellent recommendations. We'd like to be seated with him every time we go, but even if that doesn't happen, all of the wait staff are great, and no worries about waiting forever for your food. The cooks make it fresh to order, so you'll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly everything comes out.
Our first visit to 8 Noodle Bar happened just by chance. We had come to eat at the Grand Cafe, but it was closed, as they were working on remodeling the kitchen. So the Noodle Bar was our fallback plan. Now? We will probably end up bypassing the Cafe indefinitely, for this new gem we've 'discovered' at Red Rock.
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