<div id="fb-root"></div>
<script async defer crossorigin="anonymous" src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v17.0&appId=1360880647827568&autoLogAppEvents=1" nonce="nOICdQjC"></script>

Naroodle Noodle Shop

Written By Scott Joseph On January 31, 2019

Naroodle noodle top

Central Florida certainly has a lot of dingy strip malls, but I can’t imagine there are too many that are dingier than the one on the southeastern corner of Dean Road and University Boulevard in East Orlando. It always has the look and

feel of a place that is run down and neglected. Ironic then that it seems to attract independent restaurateurs.

Luckily, the interior of one of the newest tenants, Naroodle Noodle shop, a Japanese restaurant specializing in ramen and other noodle-centric dishes, doesn’t reflect the exterior.

South Steel SJO March AD copy

Naroodle counter

Naroodle room

Naroodle is a small, quick-serve operation. The interior decorator was not given a big budget to work with. Bare-wood slatted tabletops and orange and blue painted wooden chairs, minimal wall decor, including the requisite Japanese garment, are some of the touches. Five white panels (could they be pillowcases?), each with a Japanese character in red, hang over the counter that separates the dining area from the kitchen. Under a television panel behind the counter are four cartoon characters and the words “suffer, fear, pray, fall,” which I hope have something to do with the characters and isn’t the restaurant’s business plan.

Naroodle noodle

The menu features ramen but also non-brothed entrees, listed under the heading “More Noods.” I was in a nood mood, so I ordered the Yakisoba with chicken. It had the big, fat buckwheat noodles tossed with scallions and bean sprouts and dotted with sesame seeds. It was evenly, and mildly, spiced and I enjoyed it.

Naroodle chips

As a lunch special, an order of Cho-chips was offered with each entree. These are crispy rice puffs that would taste like air if they weren’t dusted with seasoning, a barbecue powder in my case. You can get “fire style,” too, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the “suffer” slogan.

Naroodle’s staff is young and seem to be learning as they go.

It’s my guess that the name is a take on Naruto, the illustrated Japanese series about a teenage ninja. If so, it would be the second time that has appeared in a local ramen shop, as I noted in my review of The Ramen.

I like the name Naroodle better.

Naroodle Noodle Shop is at 10034 University Blvd., Orlando. It is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. It does not have a website and its Facebook page isn’t very helpful. It does not list a phone number, which may be 407-853-4828.

We hope you find our reviews and news articles useful and entertaining. It has always been our goal to assist you in making informed decisions when spending your dining dollars. If we’ve helped you in any way, please consider making a contribution to help us continue our journalism. Thank you.

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
<div class="fb-comments" data-href="<?php the_permalink() ?>" data-width="100%" data-numposts="5"></div>
Scott's Newsletter