Noodle City
If you’re staying in Goleta, CA (near the Santa Barbara
airport) then I beseech you to visit Noodle City.
Noodle City is two blocks from my job. I was on my way to
another restaurant when I saw it. The aroma of pho drifted outside from the
open door. I stopped in my tracks on the sidewalk and peeped inside. The tiny establishment
was packed. It was a high energy place in a laid-back town. I couldn’t resist
stepping inside.
There were maybe three waitresses for all 35-45 guests that
were packed inside but those girls were handling
it. No one missed a beat. The service was fast and courteous (though not
steeped in Southern hospitality like I’m used to).
I ordered pho with seafood. It was straightforward; the only
oddities were the fried blocks of tofu which I've had before but theirs were particularly delicious. They were a nice touch. The seafood was
good but I’m not going to claim that they pulled it out of the ocean that
morning or anything. The dish was flavorful and piping hot, just as it should
be!
What makes this place is the atmosphere. Santa Barbara isn’t
a particularly diverse city when it comes to ethnicities so the diversity found
at Noodle City was invigorating. It was like every person of any color was
eating there. And some of them brought their white friends!
I’m laughing as I write that but it’s true.
I chatted a bit with the table of guys beside me. They ordered
pho with chicken, a broken rice and pork dish, and a vermicelli dish with
chicken and shrimp. Consensus? It was all excellent. The guys mentioned that
they stop in at least once a week. Noodle City is the “best Vietnamese restaurant
in town.”
Overall Rating: 9/10
for great food, fun atmosphere and speedy service
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