swoon!. where to start about this new restaurant in woodstock? i've eaten at yum yum noodle bar a half-dozen times since it opened five weeks ago, and have been making my way through the menu. kind of. there are a few things that i can't resist ordering again and again. like the pork buns: strips of crispy pork, cucumber and yummy sauce on a not-overly sweet bun. fantastic. of the "plates", i've had the raw kale salad (o my god, this is good for me?), the indonesian chicken satay (true, i'm a sucker for peanut sauce and bits of meat on a stick, but these were a cut above and irresistible), and the marinated green beans with a creamy miso sesame sauce and black sesame seeds on top. i had a bite of a friend's pork and watermelon salad and that is definitely on my radar for next outing.
i've had a few noodle bowls too. making my way through the broth choices, and i think my favorite is the curry/coconut. no, wait, the dashi/miso. oh never mind. i've had three of the four noodle choices and liked them all. next up: udon.
i love that the menu is so versatile; it's made to mix-and-match to personal tastes and dietary needs. they really accommodate well in this way, making it easy to be a meat-eater out with vegetarian or vegan friends. there are always a few specials on the board, too.
the ambience is hectic but really friendly with lots of people waiting here and there for take-out. the outside patio is the best. there are only a few tables (our server told me they're getting more soon) but on a nice night it's worth it to wait for one. it's fun to watch the village green and its always-interesting activity. it's also fun to sit at the bar and watch the kitchen action or get acquainted with your neighbors.
this is a great addition to the woodstock dinner scene, filling a niche that two months ago i didn't even know existed. exotic, inexpensive, healthy, fun food.