It was mid-day and middle of the week when I was sitting in We Have Noodles in Silver Lake. The relatively new restaurant opened its doors about four months ago after a yearlong stint at Smorgasbord in Downtown LA. Leaving the semi-permanent popup space to have their own brick and mortar shop had to be both exciting and nerve racking for the owner, Darren. I was there with Christina, part owner of We Like LA and we were eager to catch up over small plates, noodles, and a few of the restaurants featured items.

In the black and white designed shop with beige table tops the panting of a woman on a heavy metal track plays in the background. Is it awkward? Sure, but maybe the girl just finished working out? Music aside, my attention goes back to the design. Dark brown chopsticks, a framed article of the Brooklyn Dodgers’ 1955 World Championship win, along with images of Vin Scully align one side of the restaurant while a series of black lines in various thickness line the other. While sitting, I notice that I can’t relax as comfortably in the chair because it has no back. Of course the chairs look great, but maybe this is just a test in posture? Whatever the challenge, I accept it and I’m going to win. Or I’ll overeat, fall over, and Christina will have to roll me out of the restaurant. But both options still sound like a win-win. More for me, not so much for Christina.

In between catching up, some of Chef Darren’s favorite items arrived to the table. With little hesitation on where to start, I pointed my camera (and eventually my fork) to the dishes in order of when they arrived. The first to the table was the Eggplant Nahum Prik ($7). Made with root vegetable chips, tom yum flavor, crudité the vegetarian focused dish was surprisingly amazing. I loved the light salted chips and how it paired so beautifully with the smooth and modest eggplant. The incorporation of the vegetables only made it even more exciting to the point that I didn’t realize there was no meat involved whatsoever.

Just as quickly as we devoured the eggplant, we did the same with the Sweet Potato Tempura ($7) made with shiso, tahini, and assorted fall vegetables. How Darren managed to create a dish so delightful with a focus on sweet potato alone was beyond me, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. From the subtle sweetness of the fried potatoes, the creamy tahini sauce, to the arrangement of veggies I thought they created a beautiful take on a single item that most people overlook.

Arriving to the table with the goal of making a statement were the Chicken and Black Truffle Dumplings ($12). Four small dumplings were covered in truffle butter, topped with sliced preserved truffles, and adorned with chicken skin. Considering that each dumpling cost $3, there was a part of me that was a thrown aback at the price. But once I let the flavors that graced the luckiest of bowls dance across my taste buds, I was no longer bothered with the cost. The dumplings, the truffle, and the butter were incredible. There was an impeccable trio of flavors that was hard to describe in the moment, but one I wouldn’t let slip away. The minute the pictures were done all I wanted to do was to be present with the dish, and that I did. Until they were gone, which was pretty fast.

The final two dishes were also the biggest in size: the Green Noodle ($12) and #1 Chicken Pho ($14). The green noodles were combined with kale, fried broccoli, and spinach noodles while the chicken pho brought together chicken breast, a poached egg, and chicken skin. It was hard to make a decision on which I loved more, but I had no problem on tasting each one until they disappeared in order to come to a conclusion on the question. With that, I found myself enjoying the cold noodles and the fried vegetables, but it was the rich saltiness of the broth within the pho that would eventually win me over. The tender chicken breast, the yolk from the poached egg once it was sliced, and the thin noodles were perfect and the exact reason I became full after only a few spoonful’s. It could have also been all the other dishes too, but that didn’t really matter at this point.

As the plates and bowls were cleared from the table and the final memories of the food was all that remained, I was so glad to have dined at We Have Noodles. The small shop has created some delicious dishes that were perfect to have while catching up with a friend. To reconnect with Christina over tempura fried sweet potatoes, truffle dumplings and pho was a great day and one that I plan on redoing over and over again. And in case you were wondering, in spite of eating everything in sight, Christina didn’t have to roll me out of the restaurant.

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Address: 3827 Sunset Boulevard #C, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Phone: (323) 284-8726
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday – 11:30am to 3:00pm and 5:00pm to 10:00pm
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