Comments on First Impressions

adhd much?

So this place is basically a knockoff of Wagamama is what you're saying...

Why can't there be a Wagamama in Seattle? Or at least in the US? I ate there 8 years ago and still long to duplicate the experience.

According to that article you linked to, Scotland paid $250K for the new slogan. Is $250,000 "one grazillion dollars" in your world?

It also stated: "A government spokesman said the £125,000 cost of the displays covered the new artwork, printing and installation."

How is everything, okay? How about now? And now? Is it still good? What about now? And now? How about now? Is everything okay now? How about now? Now? Now? What about now? Now? Now? Now? Now? Now? Now? Now? Now?

#3, they have them in MA, but yeah, doesn't do you or I much good still.

im with u ms clement, that does seem a bit much.

want a good bowl? than keep heading down 12th and then turn right on jackson and then a left on 5th walk two blocks and youre at samurai noodle. best motherfucking ramen in town. udon aint bad either. anybody knows a better bowl id like to know.

i loathe communal tables. sitting next to people is the worst thing u could do to me.

Welcome to the new Capitol Hill:

"Like Bellevue, but with slightly more edge!"

The International District is just a Bus Tunnel away.

Barbecue Pork Lau Mein at the Kau Kau. More than you can eat for about $6.

As soon as the paper came off the windows of Boom Noodle, all I could think was "wow, that's some really poor design - this place looks like it sucks already". Seriously, have you seen the chairs? They look mighty uncomfortable. I live a block from this place and I will never go there.

Which is too bad, because I love going to Blue C Sushi. They should have put that in the space instead.

Not wanting the $11 tater tots at a communal table at Tavolata wold make one a cheapskate, I guess.

We walked by on New Year's Day and I'll tell you one reason it's so expensive: they've cornered the market on Eames LCWs (Loung Chair Wood, for the unitiated).

They could open 23 DWRs with the quantity they have! And guess what, the the DWR catalogue, each one of those babies is $1200! Each!!!

So rock on with your bad overhead, Boom! Noodle.

That said, I'll be giving it a go. I'm going to pretend I'm at the Covent Garden Wagamama and that I'm eating lunch before I go to Paul Smith on Floral Street and buy my new Spring wardrobe. Woot!

* Lounge

Doh!

Forget Wagamama. Bring me Noodle Bar.

Tell us about their happy hour pricing ... is it as good as at the Blue C Sushi in Fremont pricing?

Blue C is fucking terrible, why would you want more of it?

People don't eat at places like Boom Noodle looking for best quality food or least expense. They eat there for convenience and affordability and a little bit of fun/wow factor.

It's also the kind of place you go for a birthday because you're sick of everywhere else that can handle a party of 10 or more. It's another Chuck E. Cheese for adults.

I've eaten at Boom twice--it kicks ass over Wagamama which is nowhere what it used to be now that it's grown so big. Boom is cheaper too based on the prices I saw when I ate at Wagamama in Boston. So, I don't know when noodles are too expensive but the Tokyo ramen I had was a big-ass bowl of soup.

i miss wagamama too. i'll pay 10 bucks for ramen if its really good ramen.

okinawa teriyaki on the waterfront has the best ramen in town. its a cheap no concept place. try it.

Does not wanting to pay $10 for a bowl of noodle soup while seated next to strangers make one a cheapskate? Only if you're Tokyo and the dollar is seriously devalued against the Yen...

Seriously though, let's talk economy: I love Samuri Noodle and we are long overdue for more Ramen places (as Pho-mania needs a respite), but expensive Ramen's gotta go. In Tokyo they have the same ramen sold in these awesome makeshift stalls on the sidewalks. They just find some spacious lot, throw up a few bamboo mats and tarps, get a few gas cookers and they're serving an army of drunks. We need this here and it's sad that noone's figured out that the operating costs are minimal (and thus would put "Condo-Boom Noodle" outta business)...

Not wanting to pay $10 for a bowl of noodle soup - the very point of which is to be cheap, filling, and nourishing - only makes you a cheapskate if you don't own a $400,000 loft condo above the restaurant paid for by your high five figures bio-tech/programming job in SLU.

'Cause, see, those are the sorts of people Boom Noodle WANTS to have eating in their establishment.

And yeah, @10, the first thing I thought of when I saw those bright, shiny metal-mesh chairs was, "boy, they sure know how to ensure fast table turnover!"

It looks like Kurrent. Fuck Kurrent.

Also, when I nannied for two year-old twins, they called having to take a shit "going boom boom." Boom Boom Noodle.

Actually, I buy my ramen at Fred Meyer, costs about 10 cents.

Yes, 10 cents. Boil some water and add some sesame seeds, peanuts, and curry, maybe some tofu or broccoli - then it costs probably 50 cents.

At home.

I think it's an OK place. Not as good as real ramen in Japan, but a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

the dictionary! what bethany jean clement wishes she was!

this post inspired me to head to samurai noodle. it was raining like a motherfucker out there..i had the pork and chicken combo with medium noodles ( you can get em soft, hard or medium) it was off the hook, you can get extra noodles for a buck 50 if u eat all your noodles and u still have broth left. the bowl was 6 bucks and u can wash it down with a beer. the broth was off the hook with shitake mushrooms and chives. best ramen bowl in the city like i said before.

I went there for lunch yesterday. It was pretty good. I wasn't into the communal table thing so I sat at the bar and chatted with the staff (there are other non-communal tables as well). They were all pretty shocked with how busy it was, but seemed to be managing well.

I had some tofu-wok noodle thing and it was pretty good, along with some green tea and citrus bienget. With tip it came out to about $20 which is more than I'd usually pay for lunch.

I agree with the comments that it's a bit too expensive, and yes, it is a knockoff of Wagamama. I don't think it matters though, they will probably do well.

The noodles are good, and so are the green beans in miso and okonomiyaki. Communal seating is horrid. And why bring back woodgrain formica? Ugh. For the price, Republic in Union Square in New York is better and way higher concept. Still, it's tough to beat salty, greasy noodles in a loud joint full of hipsters after a night of drinking. They should lower their prices for lunch. Samurai is good, and there is also good authentic cheap ramen at the Chinese/Japanese joint across the street from the old Uwajimaya parking lot.

Another vote for Samurai Noodle, currently my favorite ethnic restaurant in Seattle at the moment. I imagine this place, just like Blue C, is Japanese food for white people. The fact the chef cooked at PF Changs sort of says it all. Haha.

If anyone would like to try some fantastic Chinese food, please try Calva Cafe across from Metropolitan Market in upper Queen Anne. Absolutely zero decor, but the food is beyond fantastic. It is a lovely small cafe run by recent transplants from the East Coast who know how to cook authentic Chinese food. Also, try the wonderful sushi.

It's not walking distance but there's a 24 hour korean place in Kent and I think Edmonds or Everett that is pretty good. And it's 24 hours.

http://www.bcdtofu.com/

I've only been to the ones in LA.

Oh and those aren't condos, they're apartments. Rentals. Around $1500-$2000/ month. And this is how they fill up the place quick and circumvent whatever process they'd have to for condos, then they can give the renters first option to buy when they convert. Built in pre-sales practically.

We ate there tonight - it was fairly crowded. I really liked the Salmon Udon. The salmon is actually smoked and its garnished with those decadent crispy salmon skins. THat's worth the price. The miso ramen was kind of bland but we told the manager because she came over and chatted with us. Hopefully its constructive criticism. It would be fine if it wasn't in the same price range as the Salmon one.

Overall it's going to be super popular and I am glad for that. It's a nice place. The chairs are more comfy than they look. I hope they stay open late because they will be totally packed.

You people are retarded.....shut up.....get off the computer.....and find a fucking hobby....Most of you idiots are bitchin' about a place you haven't even been too....You Seattle people are so fucking "behind the back" types....This ain't Japan....Everyone has their own opinions on food as well as music...and lastly, Most of you idiots live on the Hill....so, if you can afford that....than you can afford that.....
(Seattle Numbskull Beater Assoc.)

Food critic wanna-be's are far too socially inept for communal dining. Don't travel much, do ya Sweetie? As for pricing... don't cook much either, huh? Get yourself educated, PLEASE. Learn food, learn how to write, just learn SOMETHING...

@31: regarding the scheme you intuit on the part of the developer to convert rental apartments at that new Pike & 12th building to condos: myself I have no dog in this fight, but I do know the developer (who is a kick-ass affordable housing advocate in her spare time btw), and you are incorrect when you posit that "this is how they fill up the place quick and circumvent whatever process they'd have to for condos, then they can give the renters first option to buy when they convert." Not the plan.

The Monday-morning quarterbacking (football metaphor chosen advisedly, dudes) on Slog grows daily more predictable. I haven't tried Boom! yet, but I sure do know some fellas writing here have had some better noodles in Tokyo and/or Queen Anne. Thanks but I just wanted to eat out here in the neighborhood tonight.

I for one, am actually pretty happy to finally see some style, and edge starting to appear on the hill (Eames chairs and all!) Rock on....and keep it coming....as anything is better and nasty, smelly dive bars full of street kids...