Soup season is upon us, and what better way to stay warm than to cozy up with a steamy bowl of ramen or pho?
Oh — and fun fact, the word “pho” is commonly pronounced as “fuh.” Don’t believe us? Check it out pho yourself.
We asked for your recommendations on our social media for the hottest noodle bowls in town – and here are some of the spots you noodle pho-natics shared with us:
🍲 929 Kitchen, 929 Gervais St. | From Korean fried chicken to a variety of noodle bowls, customize your soup by choosing your preferred noodle, broth, and protein.
🍲 Boku Kitchen and Saloon, 916 Gervais St. | This Pan-Asian restaurant has several pho options and is a go-to spot for the Dim Sum Brunch.
🍲 Black Rooster, 201 Meeting St. | A “Frenchish” restaurant with ramen? You read that right. Chef Alex Strickland cooks up a special ramen recipe every Tuesday at the West Cola spot.
🍲 Duke’s Pad Thai, 904 Knox Abbott Dr., Cayce | We heard you loud and clear. A lot of our readers love Duke’s Pad Thai. At Duke’s, you can choose from eight different broths on the Noodle Bar with a variety of veggie and protein options.
🍲 Golden Chopstix, 1505 Charleston Highway, West Columbia | Golden Chopstix serves Thai and Vietnamese dishes and soups, each with a base of homemade stock.
🍲 Hokkaido Ramen House, 205 Columbia Ave # B, Lexington | A favorite of many Lexington residents, Hokkaido serves a variety of Japanese ramen dishes with a made-from-scratch broth.
🍲 Menkoi Ramen House, 1004 Gervais St. | Just a block from the State House in the Vista glows a neon sign that reads “Ramen House.” Inside, you will find a variety of Japanese ramen dishes, from Tokotsu Ramen with marinated pork and fishcake to a spicy bowl to help clear up any sinus issues.
🍲 Pho Viet, 2011 Devine St., + 9308 Two Notch Rd. | Both Pho Viet locations have an expansive menu of Vietnamese dishes. We suggest pairing your hot noodle bowl with a Boba Tea.
Whether you’ve been eating these foods for a while or you’re just starting out, we’ve also created a short list of terms to help you better navigate the menu.
- Bubble Tea: A tea drink containing cooked tapioca pearls.
- Dim Sum: Cantonese style of steamed dumplings prepared in small bite-sized portions.
- Gyoza: Dumplings filled with ground meat and vegetables. Can be pan-fried or steamed. AKA pot stickers.
- Poké: Hawaiian raw seafood salad.
- Ramen: Typical ramen noodles are long and elastic. There are some varieties like thin and straight + thick and wavy.
- Saké: An alcohol brewed with rice, water, and koji mold. Can be served either hot or cold.
- Soba: Spaghetti-thick noodles made of buckwheat flour that can be eaten either hot or cold.
- Tempura: Lightly battered, deep-fried seafood + vegetables.
- Udon: Thick noodles made of wheat flour.
