Alejandra’s Back With a Visit to DC Noodles

From Alejandra Owens. She also writes about food at her own site, One Bite At A Time. Follow Alejandra on Twitter @frijolita.

I’ve been sick, and when I’m sick I want soup. I even cried out publicly for some help in obtaining said soup. Had I been a smarter, less medicated woman, I would have chartered myself a taxi cab and taken my butt to DC Noodles for a bowl of what can only be described as slurpy, noodly comfort.

Yes you can get pad thai or pad see eew, but the real draw of DC Noodles is their noodle soup options. Start with the broth — clear, spicy, soy or coconut curry — then pick the noodle — wide or thin rice noodles or egg noodles. Then go for a choice of meat; in most cases you have options ranging from chicken to beef to tofu to shrimp to Vietnamese pork sausages.

I opted for the spicy soup on my first trip and embarrassed myself when an over-anxious slurp caused a fit of chili-fire coughing. My friend, thankfully, suggested I get another bowl of broth to water down the heat a bit. (Can I just defend myself here for moment? I can totally handle a jalapeño, chilis in adobo or any Latin type of heat. I promise. Asian spices… not so much.)

From the second sip on, I was hooked. I see why people love the place so much. It’s addictive. It’s comforting. The large bowl and steaming broth nearly inspire you to curl one arm around it and hover over the bowl while you eat. Good thing they deliver, because I’ll be eating this stuff on my couch for weeks to come!

What do you guys think of DC Noodles? Favorite spot? Do you prefer the likes of pho?

Where Am I Going? 1410 U Street NW (between 14th Street & Portner Place).

When Am I Going? Monday through Thursday, lunch 11:30 am to 2:30 pm; dinner 5 to 10:30 pm; Friday through Saturday, 11:30 am to 11 pm; and Sunday 11:30 am to 10:30 pm. Delivery every day from 5:30 to 10 pm with $17 minimum.

What You’ll be Eating: Traditional “Asian” starters like spring rolls and garden rolls are mixed in with fun, off-beat items like pumpkin empanadas. Main dishes are just what the name of the restaurant implies, large bowls of noodles in various broths and sauces with your choice of meat, veggies and noodle type. Add a dash of heat and make it spicy if you like.

Paycheck Pain: The average bowl of noodles runs $12, with coconut curries going for $14.

Say What? A casual, comfortable conversation spot with low lighting and tables that bring you closer to your dining partner.