Welcoming Plateau Noodle House Warms and Delights
Photo Annie Shreeve. Tampopo
Thanks to a friend, I recently discovered this gorgeous little noodle house right in the heart of the plateau. As quickly as I learnt its name Tampopo, it became my new favourite place to dine. Offering a great range of noodle dishes from different asian cuisines, all freshly made to order, this is the perfect place to meet with friends, call by for a quick meal or grab a take-out on the way home.
The place smells luscious as soon as you walk in the door. A combination of spices fill the air. You can almost taste it! Tampopo itself is rather cute. It’s small, seating no more than twenty patrons, and has a feeling of homeliness and cosiness. Towards the front of the restaurant are traditional Japanese dining tables low to the floor with cushions. There is something overly comforting about removing your shoes and sitting on the floor at a restaurant! A wide open kitchen, with seating along the swerving “bar”, creates a feeling of openness and honestly. It screams, “quality, homemade food!” which is always a lovely feeling.
As my friend and I sat and waited for our meal, complementary noodle starters and warm hand towels were brought to us. On a cold winters night especially, there is nothing more wonderful than a warm cloth to defrost your freezing fingers. As we chatted, we watched the chefs work their magic. Freshly prepared vegetables, noodles, delicious sauce and spices were quickly tossed and fried in the huge hot woks to create each of these delicious dishes.
Bami Goren. Photo Annie Shreeve.
The Bami Goren Indonesian Noodles was served in a really big bowl. Green and delicious, this curried noodle dish had a hit of spice which was wonderfully absorbed by the chicken and thick flour noodles. It delightfully complemented the sweetness of the broccoli. The dish looked welcoming, smelt delicious and tasted wonderful!
Noodle Laksa. Photo Annie Shreeve
Secondly, we enjoyed the Malaysian Noodle Laksa. Served on a plate, this dish boasted stir-fried prawns, rice noodles, green pepper and garnished with fresh cilantro and shallots. A wonderfully mellowed spicy red curry sauce tied the entire dish together.
Tampopo. Photo Annie Shreeve
Overall: Two wonderfully cooked, thoroughly enjoyed and most appreciated noodle dishes. The staff were most helpful and kind. This made the entire evening relaxing and enjoyable. My friends and I will certainly be returning to Tampopo sometime very soon.
Tampopo is located at 4449 Mentana Ave. and open Sunday to Wednesday from 11am to 10pm, Thursday to Saturday, 11am to 11pm.
