If You Like Buns, Check Out Oriental Noodle Shop
The other day while sitting in the office typing away, I had a sudden craving for Chinese food. Now I just recently started a new job so I’m not too familiar with the area but I did know that Hop Won was just a few blocks away (on 45th btw. Lex+3rd). And since Hop Won is the sister restaurant of Hing Won (which I’ve been to and liked a lot), I knew I could get a quality lunch. Though once I got there I couldn’t help but be drawn into Oriental Noodle Shop (yes the one with the guy eating a bowl of noodles while wearing a straw hat).
First of all the interior looked like it was stuck in the 1980s with the orange tiles and retro looking dining counter and stools.
The Singapore rice noodles ($7.65) was enough for 2 (maybe even 3) people- but I end up eating the whole thing myself. For those who have never tried it, it’s stirred fried rice noodles with curry powder, shrimp, roast pork and vegetables. I eat this dish a lot and Oriental Noodle Shop’s version is pretty standard for a cheap Chinese place. The slices of pork were good, and the shrimp was okay (but definitely not the fresh kind) but they could’ve added a little bit more curry powder. The one thing I didn’t like about it was the pool of oil that was at the bottom of the styrofoam box.
I also saw in the menu, a dim sum section. There’s always room for steamed buns (I thought about getting the roast pork bun but I always get the pork bun so decided to change it up a little) and so I got a steamed chicken bun ($1.50).
I’m not sure if they make this in-house or buy it from a vendor but the bun was quite delicious. The dough part of the bun was a little dense but not too bad. The filling was great, filled with a mix of chicken and vegetables and the bamboo shoots gave the bun a nice crunchy texture. I wouldn’t mind eating this all the time but then again I kind of mind paying $1.50 for 1 bun.
So if you find yourself around Grand Central and are dying for some dim sum bun action, you could do a lot worse than Oriental Noodle Shop.
The + (What somebody who likes this would say)
- They have dim sum and it’s actually quite good.
- I love large portions.
- I love anything retro.
- Good alternative to Hop Won.
The – (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)
- I hate retro.
- I hate the 1980s.
- I will not betray Hop Won
- The rice noodles were a bit oily.
- I could buy 2 buns in Chinatown for that price.
Oriental Noodle Shop, 135 E 45th St btw. 3rd & Lex (212) 697-2353
Posted by Donny T. at 9:30 am, June 28th, 2011 under Chinese, Oriental Noodle Shop.
15 Comments | RSS comments feed for this post
the only thing that belongs in a steamed bun in PORK!
for shame Donny, for shame.