Notice the intoxicating aromas wafting along 1st Street in downtown Napa? The source, no doubt, is Napa Noodles. Third in the group that includes Eiko’s Modern Japanese Cuisine and Eiko’s Hawaiian Fish Market at Oxbow, this family- owned- and operated restaurant opened in 2017 as a casual place that puts the sum- mertime emphasis on cool. From the make- it-your-own poke bowls to the Japanese marble sodas, smoothies, Thai iced tea, and frosé to enjoy on the delightful bricked patio out back, it’s all about chilling out.
FROSÉ AND POKE HIT THE SPOT
For those who have never tried a frosé, the slushy drink is as refreshing as it sounds. At Napa Noodles, guests love the Kelvin Organic Frosé frozen cocktail, made with Butternut Rosé from the Central Coast, Hangar 1 Rosé Vodka, plus organic peach and strawberry juice. The quintessential summer cocktail concept was born from a food truck on the streets of Brooklyn, New York in 2010 and made its way to fame in select restaurants across the USA.
While it may sound too good to be healthy, as with a good number of the other menu items at Napa Noodles, the frosé is certified USDA organic, non-GMO, vegan, Kosher, and gluten-free. Not to forget, a Vietnamese- inspired “sinh to bo”— a creamy, refreshing avocado smoothie.
Designing a favorite poke bowl is easy: Choose a base (rice or salad); select proteins (ahi tuna, salmon, albacore tuna, shrimp, lobster salad, tofu); add mix-ins (cucumber, mango, cilantro, edamame, jalapeno, sweet onion, baby spinach, kaiware, mandarin orange, kimchi, imitation crab); choose flavors (classic poke sauce, sriracha aioli, ponzu, spicy shoyu sauce, sweet chili sauce, sesame oil, wasabi aioli, kewpie mayo, siracha); and finally, add toppings (avocado, green onion, tobiko, crispy shallots, habanero masago, wakame seaweed salad, sesame seeds, Japanese seven spices, rainbow kelp, toasted rice puffs, roasted almond slices, fried noodles, nori furikake).
BEYOND THE POKE BOWL
Napa Noodles is an Asian Pacific Rim-style restaurant that fuses classic Asian noodles with the freshness and taste of Napa Valley. Like its sister, Eiko’s Modern Japanese Cuisine, only the best of the best produce, meats, poultry, and seafood are served, including what goes into the popular menu items like Duck Duck Soup, Sichuan Dan Dan Noodle, and Thai Tom Yum Soup.
Everyone who loves Korean short ribs, wings, and pork is delighted to know that Napa Noodles is open for lunch and dinner. The Chopping Board menu also features locally sourced roasted duck breast, Chinese-style sticky baby back pork ribs, and roasted teriyaki chicken. And because it’s rare to find a kid who doesn’t love noodles, Napa Noodles is a magnet for families. Children enthusiastically vouch for the ramen, pho, yakisoba, and teriyaki chicken bowl.
It’s likely the Napa weather will be beau- tiful, sunny, and warm, so owner Allison Hallum suggests the dog-friendly outdoor patio where tables and chairs are perfectly placed for social distancing.
1124 First Street Napa, CA 94559
707-492-8079 // www.napanoodles.com
