Noodle Express on Sullivan is a fast food subsidiary of the Mustard Seed. I love anything that comes from the Mustard Seed. I ran into the Valley Noodle Express one afternoon just to check if they had any gluten free options. The manager at the register frowned and replied “no, we don’t”. Ok, bye, bye.
As I turned to head back out the door, I heard a hearty laugh, and he raised his voice “I was kidding, of course we do.” Ha, funny guy
He explained the Glazed Sweet Thai and Singapore Style were the two options that were gluten free. Still smiling he mentioned that the white rice was not gluten free, seriously. They put soy sauce and chicken broth in it while it simmers. Brown rice is safe though.
I picked the Glazed Sweet Thai with tofu. I watched as the previous order came up and the chef then cleaned the grill. Soon my food was up and I grabbed a seat in the sunshine to try this out. I started with a bite of the salad. The taste of cucumbers, carrots, cabbage and celery in a tangy, but slightly creamy sauce brought back a flood of the memories of teriyaki shrimp bowls on late nights downtown Spokane in my pre-gf days. Usually after going to a play at the then called Opera House.
The Sweet Thai was ok, not spectacular. The flavor of the sauce was less than intense, like their signature Osaka or teriyaki. But that salad, cool and crunchy over the warm brown rice, was well worth the stop. Pair it with some protein and Noodle Express is perfect for an afternoon snack, a quick dinner or to satisfy Asian cravings.
Sweet Thai Tofu
