2017 E. Carson St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
412.251.0558
website
Pittsburgh’s South Shore draws people of just about every persuasion, but most especially it’s a sprawling cultural center and bar scene late into the night. Such a busy street in such a global city wouldn’t be complete if it didn’t have a hidden little noodle house to serve it, and Mad Noodles is a resident Asian fusion restaurant, serving Thai, Japanese and Chinese dishes for what tends to be a pretty eclectic crowd. The food isn’t bad but the place can feel a little slow.
The menu is a mix of cuisines from all across Asia, generally best thought of as a good spot for noodle dishes from each nationality. Some of the things worth trying:
- Pad Thai: Probably the best thing on the menu, going big on the peanuts and some generous helpings of bean sprouts and that wonderful sweet Pad Thai sauce. This dish is typically better on the higher end of the five-point spicy scale.
- Thai Style Flat Noodles: Also known as Pad See Ew, this dish features huge, wide noodles served with a kind of meat or protein on a sweeter sauce with sauteed peppers, onions and plenty of oil. I like this one with the heat a bit more muted; the end result is something more sweet and pleasant.
- Sushi: So there are a range of sushi options ranging from the relatively basic takes to the more complex flavors, and in this case the sushi is really best when it’s topped with fresh fish, that always makes the difference. These rolls aren’t too bad, though not necessarily inspiring, and sometimes a bit formulaic.
- Cocktails: As is the case in many Asian restaurants, there are some milder cocktails on the menu sometimes, often made with soju or a milder spirit and coming off fruity.
The restaurant is open until 11 p.m. most nights, which makes it a popular place for bargoers and international students alike, and it’s pretty easy to say the place has no trouble at least attracting interest with the bright colorful feel that is something akin to what you’d find in some of the interesting bars in Tokyo or Seoul. Prices aren’t too bad, either.
The service is my main complaint; whether or not you face a crowd coming in, it’ll take awhile to get ordered, food and drinks will take awhile and it’ll be hard to wait for refills of water and the like. Two visits – an early Friday evening and a later Saturday night – saw the same problem, unfortunately.
Recommendations
- Most food is served with a heat scale of 1 to 5. There’s a big difference between, say, a 2 and a 3 so be mindful.
- The menu is often supplemented with a few daily specials and interesting additions. Come back mid-day for lunch menus at cheaper prices too.
- This tends to be busier in the evenings, and might be a better lunchtime or afternoon experience.
Another Food Critic 