With temperatures dropping rapidly as the seasons change, I find myself craving warm and hearty meals to keep the cold away. After visiting Daddy's Noodle Bar, UConn's long-awaited restaurant that just opened up just over a month ago, it's safe to say I'll be going back the next time I'm feeling chilly.
Location
Located in Storrs Center right between Moe's and Dog Lane Café, Daddy's Noodle Bar already scored points in my book for its proximity to campus. It took me no more than 10 minutes to walk there and order my food, making it an easy option for students looking to grab a quick bite to eat.
The menu is posted on the windows of the restaurant and can also be found online, allowing people to decide exactly what they want before entering to reduce the amount of people within the building in accordance with COVID-19 restrictions.
My order of choice was the classic Daddy's Noodles: ramen with pork, bean sprouts, fish cake, tajima egg, scallion, and nori. With about five people in line ahead of me waiting for their order, it took me approximately 15 minutes to get my food.
While both indoor and outdoor seating options were available, I chose to take my ramen to go. In order to prevent the noodles from getting soggy, the soup and noodles were packed in separate containers to allow for easy at-home assembly, which was a nice touch.
It was definitely a generous portion of food, so I poured half the soup into a bowl and added the noodles and extra ingredients on top. Being able to make it look pretty is a bonus!
The Taste Test
Now for the most important part: the taste. The soup was still nice and hot, and tasted light and savory with a hint of spice due to the chili sauce they gave me with the noodles. Upon reflection, I think they may have given me the Spicy Daddy (ramen with miso chili paste) by accident, but I appreciated the depth of flavor and spice it added to the broth.
The noodles themselves were pleasantly firm, and tasted great with the savory broth. I especially enjoyed the thin slices of pork along with the soft-boiled tajima egg, which had a yummy soy-sauce flavor due to its marination process.
I finished my meal feeling satisfied, full, and warm from head to toe, with plenty left over to enjoy the next day.
Daddy's Noodle Bar offers a range of traditional and authentic Vietnamese classics, so be sure to head on over the next time you're craving a warm and filling meal.
Address: 1 Dog Ln, Storrs Center, CT 06269
Hours of Operation: Monday-Sunday, 11 am-9pm