So, confession time… yes, it’s true…I have
been to Benihana. You know, one of those hibachi establishments where you pay a fortune to witness the
“showmanship” of some guy throwing a few shrimps at your mouth. Do yourself a favor; don’t go (even if they
did send you a “Free Entrée for Your Birthday” coupon). Instead, head over to Everyday Noodles in
Squirrel Hill. Here, you can be
entertained and eat Taiwanese-style
noodles gimmick-free.
When you enter
Everyday Noodles, the first thing you notice, besides the aroma of delicious
eats, is the row of cooks/chefs stationed behind a large pane of glass. While being escorted to your table, you’re
very likely to witness (and be totally mesmerized) with a gentleman who is
wielding an enormous stretch of dough.
He’ll continuously stretch and pull the dough, making you jump as he
slaps it down to the counter from time to time. These cooks are masters at what they do. Considering the owner, Mike Chen, personally selects cooks
from Taipei to visit Pittsburgh to train his employees, it’s no shock to see such expertise.
Once seated,
you’ll have to peel your eyes away from the men in the window, to take a gander
at the menu. Paper menus can be found on
your table, complete with pencils to mark your dining choices. You’ll notice that the menu ranges from
appetizers to a variety of noodle categories.
For example, you can get your noodles in broth, aka soup, or dry. My
favorite noodle soup is the Braised Beef.
The meat was a bit fatty, but it was very tender and flavorful. I prefer the Noodles with Minced Pork Sauce
when ordering from the dry noodle items.
You get the option of trying the thin or wide flour-based noodles (made
in-house), or opting for rice noodles.
 |
| Marinated Sliced Beef Shank (Appetizer) |
 |
| Braised Beef Noodle Soup |
 |
| Noodles with Minced Pork Sauce ("Dry" Noodles) |
There’s no denying
that the noodle dishes are amazing, but I have a serious obsession with their
dumplings. The steamed pork soup dumplings are what foodies’ dreams are made
of: little purses of dough filled with the perfect union of a tender, pork
meatball and velvety broth. Be forewarned though, these lil’ dumplings
are equally adorable and dangerous! If
eaten incorrectly, you will scald your tongue and make a mess of yourself… causing
those patrons around you to giggle at your tomfoolery.
 |
| Steamed Pork Soup Dumplings |
When eating a soup
dumpling, you have a couple of choices. 1.) After the dumplings have cooled a
bit, dip your dumpling in a mix of soy sauce and vinegar (make sure you get
some of the ginger they bring you as well) and then place the whole dumpling
in your mouth. 2.) If have no will power to let them cool down, put a dumpling
in the spoon they provide you (after you dip it in the sauce). Then you can hold the dumpling close to your
mouth while you bite the top of the dumpling off. (Some people even suck the broth out at this
point.) Once the steam escapes, eat the
rest in one bite.
The potstickers
are also a treat for the palate. We often
order the Pork and Vegetable. When
people ask me what potstickers are, I describe it as an Asian pierogie of
sorts. It’s a thin fold of dough filled
with meat and vegetables and has a crust on one side where it “stuck to the
pot”…get it…potstickers.
 |
| Pork and Vegetable Potstickers |
One gripe
some folks may have, is that the majority of menu items feature pork or
beef. If you’re a chicken lover, this
isn’t the best place for you. Also, when
it’s busy, drink refills are sometimes hard to come by. Overall, however, Everyday Noodles is anything but
“every day”. On the contrary, dining
here is a fun event. For a reasonable
price, you get expertly prepared food and a “show”.
I give Everyday
Noodles: 4/5 forks
Will I return?
Absolutely
5875 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
412.421.6668
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