An Unassuming Noodle Haven: E O Noodle, Framingham

I have mentioned EO Noodle a number of times in this blog, but I thought it was time to do it justice. A very small and modest spot on Route 9 in Framingham, it is defined by its lack of pretentiousness. In fact, I think "charming" might be the best word to describe the atmosphere. The outside is so minimalist and the curtains so often pulled that a friend insisted they had closed. No. It is still open daily. Inside it is painted salmon with bright garish flowers on the wall. There are just a few tables and today, for example, my cup was chipped.

The menu never seems quite accurate. FoodieDaddy's sesame chicken was neither stir fried nor spicy as the menu noted. So, it is good to ask questions.

There is also only one main server. He is also the same man that answers the phone. And he is also the owner and cook. When it is busy, expect him to be abrupt, but when it is quieter, he will start up a conversation and even crack a smile. His gruff manner masks a very considerate man: when he realized FoodieDaddy wasn't going to eat a side order of soup (too spicy), he brought him another.


Clearly, we don't go there for atmosphere. We go there for the food and for the special touches that we have only found in Chinatown or at much higher end restaurants. For example, the spicy sauce on the tables is home made. And it is so, so good. Layered with flavor, simply calling it "hot" doesn't do it cover how delicious it is. The home made wontons (which are offered with pork or vegetable or to my husband's delight, chicken) are individually made. They are tender, moist and flavorful but also comforting. You can have them with any of 3 sauces (Dan Dan, a peanut sauce; a ginger sauce or a spicy soy sauce) and if you are very nice, you might even get 2.

My husband raves about the Mongolian style barbecue. Again, it is definitely not barbecued and I am not convinced they eat this in Mongolia. But it is incredibly well seasoned stir fry with chicken that is so soft it almost melts in the mouth. It is served with a great helping of vegetables and just enough sauce. You can have it with rice, but we always choose the noodles.

In fact, besides the addictive wontons, we really go there for the noodles. They offer 2 types of homemade noodles, thin and thick, and both are fantastic. They are tender, but yet have a bite. The Dan Dan noodles come with sliced cucumber, steamed spinach and just enough sauce. The sauce tastes of sesame seeds and soy, with barely any garlic and just a hint of peanuts. The "Meat Noodles" are made chicken while the "Peking Meat" noodles have pork. The "Meat Noodles" is one of my favorites: again, lightly cooked ground chicken in an incredibly flavorful sauce served over the homemade noodles.

I have also had the roast duck noodle soup which consisted of a large bowl of deeply flavored stock with fried shallots and large pieces of duck. I appreciated that when we took out the broth, the duck and the noodles were all packaged separately so they wouldn't be soggy at home. Again, another great touch. The Szechuan Spicy Beef Noodle Soup was very good, though it definitely wasn't spicy enough for my taste.

The place isn't perfect-sometimes the sauces can be a bit heavy or the noodles can be so covered in sauce that it is hard to enjoy them. (In the future I plan to ask them to always pack the noodles separate from the toppings.) But the prices are reasonable, the parking is easier than a trip to Chinatown and the noodles are always so, so good. Finally, since the portions are so generous, any trip to E.O. Noodle guarantees us a second meal the next day (and 2 less meals we have to cook!)

MetroWest Food Finds

After the birth of my first son, I focused on the disappointment of the food world West of Route 128. However, this time around, with Chowhound as my new guide I have discovered some fabulous food and restaurants in the Framingham/Natick area. Some of my favorites (all family friendly!) include:

1. Oga's-just outstanding sushi everytime. The rice is perfect, the fish is fresh and moist and the chirashi sushi (amongst others) is gorgeous. The lunch deal-soup, salad and 3 rolls for $11.00 is also excellent.

2. Sichuan Gourmet-Oh, heaven. I adore spicy Chinese food, especially when it isn't simply spicy "hot", but spicy and flavorful. So far, all the dishes I have had at Sichuan Gourmet have fit that description. My favorites: Fresh bamboo shoots with special sauce, sichuan wontons with spicy chili sauce, dried chicken with chili sauce and beef with spicy sauce. I have been craving the dried chicken on a daily basis since I ate it a month ago! Complex-with sichuan peppercorns, amazingly not greasy, it was just fabulous. For non-spicy people, I think it is a bit weaker, but the rainbow chicken, chicken wings and bok choy with mushrooms were quite good.

3. E O Noodle-Another Chinese food find. In fact, like Sichuan Gourmet it makes me not feel the need to go to Chinatown quite as often. My husband said that his mongolian chicken was the most tender he has ever had. I enjoyed the spicy beef noodle and the roast duck soup. I particularly appreciated that for a take out order they packaged the noodles separately from the vegetables and duck so that the noodles remained chewy. My addictions here: the chicken ravioli with spicy szechuan sauce (not nearly as heavy and oily as typical pork ones) and Noodles with meat sauce-absolutely fantastic. The noodles have a fantastic texture, while the sauces remain flavorful. However, you have to make sure to order the homemade noodles.

4. Market Basket in Ashland. An unusual food find. I love the cheap prices. I hate the blocked aisles (they clearly save money by stocking shelves when it is most busy). I love the fabulous assortment of Brazilian and Latino products-especially the queso fresco, queso blanco, malanga, calabeza and other produce.

5. The Indian Market on Route 9-Another great store. Not only does it have a nice range of ingredients and fresh and quick to prepare products, but there is an inexpensive take out place at the back! I had decent samosas, but they also have a varied menu including different types of dosas.

6. Bagel Fresh Cafe-Surprisingly good bagels in a range of types. Definitely big and doughy. The egg sandwiches are quite good.

7. Giannis Pizza-It isn't Reginas, but it is good. They offer a regular and a Sicilian which is a deep dish, very doughy style, too. Try to go when it isn't too busy.

8. Asinayo Market on Route 126 in Framingham. Small, pricey and definitely not the Super 88, but the staff are always kind and helpful and for those times when you need a specialized ingredient (from fresh to frozen), it is convenient. They seem to be strongest in the Korean foods.

9. Lola's in Natick Center. Tony who runs this place is originally from the North End. His mother makes delicious sicilian style pizza that is available fresh or frozen. They have decadent arrancini (stuffed and fried risotto cakes) and stuffed and fried potato cakes, too. While it isn't Ernestos, nor is it cheap, the food is homemade and wonderful and Tony couldn't be more accommodating.

10. B and R Bakery: The best baguettes. Only Clear Flour's are comparable.

11. J and M Diner: A wonderful breakfast spot. The pancakes, although quite dense, are the size of plates. They come with tons of chocolate chips or fresh fruit. The hash browns are good, the omelets are full of fresh vegetables and the service is warm and welcoming. Great place for kids.

12. Firefly's-We like the food here. The cornbread is moist, sweet and cake-like. I love the large salads. The bbq chicken is consistently good. They are also incredibly kid-friendly, with a condiment bar that curbs the appetite while the little ones wait. We have had some mediocre meals here, but the service has made up for it every time. (An item immediately taken off the bill with a personal apology from the manager.) They are also extremely sensitive and courteous to people with food allergies which doesn't always happen.

And still to try: Green Tea, Oriental Pearl and Uncle Cheungs for Dim Sum as well as Terra Brasilis and Aztec.