As we head into the season of warm weather, cold noodle bowls make perfect fare for hot days and evenings. Here’s our list of some cold noodles must-haves this summer in Auckland.
Bibim Naengmyeon (Korean spicy cold noodle)
Bibim Naengmyeon is a Korean spicy cold noodle dish which is perfect to help you beat the summer heat. This noodle dish is packed with a mix of fiery spice, zesty tang and sweetness, and icy chill.
It combines ice-chilled buckwheat noodles, thin strips of cucumbers, kimchi, thinly sliced beef, finished with a hard-boiled egg and a mixture of spicy gochujang-based sauce. Taste best when spicy mustard and vinegar are added.
EAT THIS: Pocha Albany, 1/329 Albany Highway, Rosedale. Ph: 09393 8080
Liangpi (Chinese ‘cold skin’ noodles)
Liangpi has its origins in China's Shaanxi province. The noodles are made from wheat or rice flour and dressed with soy sauce, chili oil, and vinegar, while garnished with thinly sliced strips of cucumber, bean sprouts, and cilantro.
Directly translated to mean ‘cold skin’, it is in reference to the chewy, thick, and translucent texture of the noodles.
EAT THIS: Lai Lai Liang Pi 10 Wellesley Street East, Auckland Central. Ph: 021 892 888
Zaru Soba (Japanese cold noodles)
This cold noodle dish is a Japanese classic consisting of buckwheat noodles served with mentsuyu or tsuyu sauce on the side. The soba noodles are cooked and chilled, and eaten by dipping in the sauce.
It is called zaru after the bamboo strainer on which the noodles are traditionally served. Zaru soba is served garnished with sliced spring onions and topped with shredded nori—dry seaweed.
EAT THIS: Ten-Hana, 128 Albert Street, Auckland Central. Ph: 021223 8837
Bún thịt nướng (Vietnamese cold noodle salad)
This light and refreshing Vietnamese noodle salad is served with grilled or caramelized pork, but there is a variety of options of ingredient toppings.
Fresh slivered veggies are mixed with the vermicelli noodles in a tangy Vietnamese rice vinegar dressing, served with grilled meats. The bowl is garnished with peanuts before the dish is served.
EAT THIS: Le Vietnamese Kitchen, 107 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby. Ph: 09 3766107
Yum E-Sarn Noodles (Thai cold rice noodles)
Yum E-Sarn is a Thai-style noodle dish that is refreshing in flavour and crunchy texture. It's made with a combination of rice noodles, fried garlic, cilantro, chili peppers, dried shrimp, lime juice, fish sauce, onions, Chinese celery, and roasted peanuts.
Served cold, it is served mixed with chicken, mussels and crispy anchovies for extra protein and taste.
EAT THIS: Thai E-Sarn, 3/205 Hobson Street, Auckland Central. Ph: 09 9639691
