Noodle Bars in London

[camp_dick]

Sadly I noticed last week that Samurai has closed.

http://www.chopstixmedia.com/

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What a drag. I went maybe half a dozen times, but there was rarely anybody else in the joint.

I had an amusing experience @ Samurai, following an expedition to the record shop in Piccadilly Circus, where I acquired the double CD of Jimi Hendrix and the Band of Gypsys Live At The Fillmore East on New Year's, 1970. It's maybe 1pm and I am the only customer in the place. I order and, while waiting for the food to arrive, I tear the packaging off my CD to access the insert booklet, which I am perusing when the guy from behind the sushi counter comes up and engages me in conversation. He's like, Aha! Jimi Hendlix! Velly good! He suggests that we put it on. I'm like, I don't know that you're going to like it, dude, but he insists upon turning off whatever bland MOR music is softly playing in the background and out of the speakers comes a voice introducing, on bass, Mr Billy Cox... Of course, it's an old live recording and the levels are low and so he turns up the stereo just as Jimmy tears into Stone Free

Must say, it sounded a bit flat over their system, but nonetheless I relished the incongruity of raw, wailing electric guitar music in such sedate surroundings. This version of Stone Free - opening the last show @ the Fillmore - is a showcase for Jimi's most outrageous histrionics, which include but are not limited to sustained soloing and squealing excursions into feedback as well as flat out guitar boogie by the best trio Hendrix played with (Buddy Miles on drums). It's nearly thirteen minutes long! Before it was half done, the manager had appeared and had words with the sushi guy that didn't need subtitles. The noise was turned down and the track played out at a subdued volume before the CD was smilingly returned.

Now I suppose I'm obliged to return to wagamama as the West End's sole remaining supplier of salmon miso ramen. It's all wrong. I mean, like they're going to offer to play Hendrix while I slurp, is it not? OK, you might say they're not that desperate...

Edited October 4, 2005 by camp_dick (log)

[Jon Tseng]

Terry Durack has his own 'lowest common denominator' theory and it is true that I may yet return to the very same waga unit to try their salmon miso ramen, since it is handy. I was struck by how close the experience Durack describes mirrors my own.  So at least wagamama is consistent 

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Nit-picking, but its a bit churlish for Tel to criticise them for food coming at variable times - they do warn you on the menu (I think) that food comes as an when the dish is ready, rather than when everything is ready.

J

Edited October 5, 2005 by Jon Tseng (log)

[vytoh]

Sadly I noticed last week that Samurai has closed.

This news has caused much gnashing of teeth in my household. I have been a quiet fan of Samurai this last year, mostly in anticipation of my annual season at the London Film Festival where I seem to reside mostly at the Odeon on Panton St for 2 weeks. Since I sometimes have a break in between movies I was looking forward to being able to pop into Samurai for a cup of tea and a quick bite before the next session.

I can't believe it has closed just the month before the festival starts. Now I shall have to brave the crowds and cross the awful Leicester Square to enter Chinatown for food instead.

Bah

[camp_dick]

Tuk Tuk Thai Noodle Bar @ 56 Old Compton St. (next door to the Admiral Duncan)

It's Busaba without the bullshit!

Clean and modern, if uninspired, design with banquettes lining a long thin shop on Soho's Gay St.

Nineteen noodle dishes include laksa and mee goreng, Singapore noodles and beef ho fun (and duck!), as well as phad Thai and tom kha. Otherwise, there's a dozen rice dishes; a selection of curries and soups; plus a good a range of stir fries and grills and side dishes including tempura and ribs, as well as fish cakes & satay: 102 menu items, all told.

Service, from two black clad Thais was brisk with customers wishing to smoke seated nearer the door.

Po-pea jay spring rolls were fat and crisp with a good 'n' tangy dipping sauce.

Tom yam jay contained rather too much baby sweetcorn in its selection of stir fried veggies for my liking and not enough mushrooms, and not very interesting mushrooms, but the spicy sour soup cleared my sinuses and was good enough for me to drain the bowl.

I drank carrot juice and spent less than a tenner.

One wonders why a Thai joint is bothering with such a diverse menu (mixed seafood fried udon, anyone?). I bet they're going to sell lots of phad Thai and green curry. Well, they're probably going to be selling quite a lot of that stuff to me...

Apparently, there's another one @ 59 Charing Cross Road. Google informs me that this one may have relocated from Chinatown.

[curlywurlyfi]

No, it's about 50 feet off Earl's Court Road. Definitely Japanese.

I spotted this on Friday. It's on Hogarth Road, which is the little road just north of the ECR post office, and it's next door to a Thai supermarket. Called "No. 10 Restaurant" - wonder what street number it's at???

[origamicrane]

eerrr.......

umm.......

is it number 9?