Udon, Ramen, Soba - Do you know your noodles?

January 4, 3:29 AMBoston Food ExaminerJacqueline Church

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Mentai Noodle Shop on our New Year's Eve Adventure

New Year's Eve traditions include slurping a bowl of noodles to ensure a "smooth transition" into the new year.

My little frigid foray out to see the ice sculptures for the first time EVER since living in Boston, included a stop at Mentai Noodle Shop on Hereford Street between Newbury and Boylston.

Seeing this article in the NYT about a Westchester shop that sells Nabeyaki Udon, one of my favorites. If you're in the New York area, Momofuku Noodle Bar in NYC pretty much sets the bar as far as I'm concerned. Fantastic food that transports you, and other than the surveillance cameras (!) nothing detracts from the wonderful dining experience.

Nabeyaki Udon at Ginza

Once, years back, my late grandmother and my aunt were visiting. I took them to the Ginza in Brookline as I was living near there at the time. We were on the early side and the tea wasn't very hot yet. (A big no-no in Japanese culture) Rather than tell us the water wasn't hot enough yet, they served us tepid tea. Not hot. Not cold.

It was a cold day so at least two of us ordered Nabeyaki udon which Ginza did quite well at the time.

It is served in an iron bowl that retains heat so well - it was nearly an hour before we could eat them! My grandmother said something to my aunt in Japanese as Yoko ate her dish and Grandma and I waited for our noodles to cool down sufficiently to eat them. I asked Yoko what Grandma had said..."They're getting back at us for complaining about the lukewarm tea."

Too funny. The noodles did cool down and they were delicious.

The noodles in the picture above are ramen style and the ones in the photo below are udon. Do you know your noodles? Do you know the difference between soba and udon?

Hong Kong Eatery in Chinatown is a great spot to warm up with a big bowl of wonton noodle soup. Just ask my food writer friend, Clare. She read my article on it, went there and is now a fan.

Other spots in the Boston area that are worth trying:

• Skip Wagamama - If you want to know why, you must read about Toe Sox, Matsuzaka and Ramen.
• Porter Square food court has many varieties.
• Ginza in Chinatown or Brookline still serves good udon.

Where do you like to go for noodles in Boston?