Now that it's cold it's time for soup. I was walking back from a haircut and went in thinking Tom Yum and ended up at Quang Noodle getting chicken Pho. $6.95 gets you a very large steaming bowl of noodles, chicken, chilies, cilantro, sprouts and wonderful clear broth that has just enough heat to last on your lips for an hour and keep your core warm for a 4 block walk. It didn't do anything for my gloveless fingertips.
Quang Noodle is a small spot on State and Chicago that you've likely walked by without even noticing. I think part of that reason is the number of large trucks at that corner stoplight that not only darken the interior of the restaurant but impair the visibility of the outside.
The menu looks interesting. It's the usual Thai/Vietnamese combo. To my ears Quang sounds more Vietnamese and it's getting top billing between the two cuisines on their signage. That and the fact that while I really loved the soup the crab Rangoon was not doing it for me.
The menu is amazing. It's huge. The variation of dishes was surprising and they don't dumb down the names which means that unless you know what Ga Xao Bing Cai Trang is you'll be doing extra reading. They also have a plethora (that word always makes me think of the Three Amigos) of dishes with squid and shrimp.
My next visit will have to be to taste the Canh Chua Ca Bong Lau. See what I mean? That's catfish soup in Mongolian hotpot with pineapple, bean sprouts, tomato, cabbage and veggies in a spicy tamarind base. That's exactly the type of food I'd want to be able to get in downtown Chicago.
Corporate folks should note that they do deliver and they do take American Express.
Quang Noodle
312-951-9030
804 N. State Street
any good places for veggie Pho? We could get it with a mushroom base in a few places in Seattle.
Posted by: Trayf | December 02, 2007 at 11:13 AM
Woah - I live near there and have tried the place a few times, but was always very dissapointed. The pho - um, sucked. I do give it props for being the only place serving vietnamese in the area. I'd say hop on the red line or catch a cab and go south to chinatown or north to argyle area.
Posted by: Brady | December 20, 2007 at 11:49 AM
If you have the time to head far north or south you'd be silly not to go to either Chinatown or Argyle. Absolutely agree.
Posted by: josh | December 20, 2007 at 11:59 AM
I once made the mistake of going here once when I was desperate for pho and was sorely disappointed. And here I was thinking that you couldn't mess it up! Do yourself a favor and go to Argyle for Vietnamese food, because this place is a poor representation.
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