Cheu Noodle Bar Twerking Ramen Bowls

We’ve come a long way since the days of the offensively-named-to-some “Roundeye Noodle Bar” pop ups. These days, Cheu Noodle Bar brings in a solid lunch and dinner crowd every day to their permanent location on 10th Street. The space, that once upon a time housed Maru Global, has been completely transformed with a few small tables and seating at the bar. Its definitely cramped, but nobody seems to mind.  A promise of new menu items reminded me it had been too long since I visited, and that I had never gotten around to writing about them. I needed a memory and mouth refresher.

Oyster buns, added to the menu last week and the only new menu item I ended up trying, came out hot and perfectly fried. Instead of a starchy mantou bun, these come on flaky, almost biscuit like buns that I was crazy for.

Another small plate, pig tails, was equally successfully.  The satisfying combo of meat and melty fat and sweet glaze on these oinkers gives Asian fusion a good name.
On a cold day, the coconut curry soup ($11) with  peanut sambal sounded soothing, but its vegan. How can you stay warm without meat? For $3, we were able to add a generous portion of soft, fatty pork belly.  The curry broth was creamy, but could have benefited from lime or other acid.

I was tempted by the new soup-less short rib mazamen, but ultimately couldn’t resist the promise of  matzah ball kimchee ramen. $13 is a lot for one bowl of soup, but its a complete meal, with many, high quality components.  My Jewish tuchas is always skeptical about any matzah ball that wasn’t made by my mother. These were surprisingly light and the right realm of texture. Its jarring to eat them soaked in the rich and kimchee spiced beef broth, but thats easy to overcome.  The pieces of smoked brisket are more Southern than Jewish mom style, but that didn’t interfere with my enjoyment.  I also loved the chewy Sun noodles; they are my ideal for ramen bounciness and snap. These noodles basically twerk.  Big Freedia approves.

THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

  • Complete bowl of flavorful soup and bouncy noodles
  • The small plates pack a punch

THE – (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)

  • I don’t have time for a long lunch
  • Bill adds up fast, especially when you add in apps and drinks

Cheu Noodle Bar,  255 S 10th St, 267 639 4136

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