A Worcester Guardian contributor immerses themselves in the city’s diverse noodle scene, showcasing some of the top eateries dishing out the finest ramen, soba, and more. Exploring Worcester’s noodle scene through a flavorful lens
WORCESTER—Worcester, known for its historical charm and thriving community, offers a unique advantage to food enthusiasts seeking a taste of authenticity. The city boasts a rich cultural heritage, vibrant arts scene, and burgeoning community that embraces diversity. One of the advantages of living in Worcester is the accessibility to an array of authentic international cuisines, making it a haven for food lovers.
And sprinkled across the growing noodle landscape, two restaurants have played a pivotal role in driving the culinary revolution in the city. Chashu Ramen and Pho Dakao
stand out as the pioneers of the Worcester noodle scene with their diverse and unique menus.
Chashu Ramen: where tradition meets innovation
With its enticing menu and commitment to traditional Japanese flavors, Chashu Ramen captures the essence of Worcester’s culinary evolution.I
n Japan, ‘chashu’ is the word for braised pork belly, but in downtown Worcester, it means a lot more than just that.
Situated in the stylish Franklin Street downtown area, Chashu Ramen and Izakaya is a contemporary East Asian restaurant adorned with captivating artwork, anime displayed on TVs, and a bustling open kitchen that exemplifies the city’s culinary prowess and creates a welcoming space for guests. The aim was to craft a lively space that transports your senses halfway around the globe.
“Our vision was to have a place that can transport people,” said Chef Son Vo. “Bring something fresh to downtown Worcester and create that Japanese-inspired lounge, bar environment and have it with some style. So when you’re coming in, you don’t feel like you’re in downtown Worcester. Every square inch of the space was curated, right from the artwork on the walls, even the seating. A lot of thought went into the whole experience.”
A gastronomic journey through Chashu ramen’s menu
The star of the show at Chashu Ramen is undoubtedly the diverse range of ramen offerings that grace the menu. Each bowl is a masterpiece, showcasing the meticulous attention to detail and commitment to authentic flavors. The restaurant features three main noodle bowls:
- Assari Ramen: Delicate yet bursting with flavor, the Assari Ramen is a clear broth masterpiece. Infused with a harmonious blend of soy sauce, mirin, and dashi, it’s a favorite among those who appreciate the subtlety of Japanese cuisine.
- Tonkotsu Ramen: For those seeking a richer and heartier option, the Tonkotsu Ramen delivers an indulgent experience. The creamy pork bone broth is a labor of love, simmered to perfection and served with melt-in-your-mouth chashu pork slices.
- Mazemen: Chashu Ramen doesn’t shy away from innovation. The Mazemen, a brothless ramen, showcases the chef’s creativity. Tossed in a flavorful sauce and accompanied by a medley of toppings, it’s a delightful departure from the traditional ramen experience.
“The food that we have, some is very authentic, but some is our cool twist on Japanese cuisine,” added Vo. “And so, customers come in, they may have never had Japanese food before or ramen or izakaya. And we want to make sure that we can, you know, provide them with like a great experience and understand the food and what’s behind it.”
For those looking for something besides noodles, Chashu offers a variety of unique small plates great for sharing: beef tataki, sliced thin and dressed with a yuzu vinaigrette with watermelon radish and fried onion. Additionally, there are Korean-style chicken wings—plus a lot more.
As Worcester continues to flourish as a culinary destination, Chashu Ramen remains a must-visit, beckoning food enthusiasts to savor the rich flavors that define this charming city.
Pho Dakao: where Vietnamese cooking goes beyond the bowl
Next up is Pho Dakao, a Vietnamese restaurant and bar located on Park Ave in Worcester. The first location in Worcester opened in 2002, and hey also added a location in Framingham in 2013. Pho’s slogan is “Vietnamese cooking beyond the bowl.”
Dang Pham, the son of Pho Dakao’s owner, described the journey of how they started this unique restaurant: “My family has been dedicating our lives to the restaurant business for over 15 years. It all started when my father, Hiep Pham, wanted to work in a restaurant because of his passion for cooking. Eventually, he worked his way up to become the head chef at the restaurant that he was working at.”
Pham said that after many years of learning, his father knew he wanted to open his own restaurant and share his culinary talents with the surrounding community and beyond. Pho is Vietnamese noodle soup consisting of beef or chicken broth, served with rice noodles and fresh herbs. Dakao is a famous business district right in the heart of Saigon.
Some of Pho Dakao’s specialty noodle soups include the seafood noodle soup, the beef stew noodle soup, and the spicy beef Udon noodle soup. There is also a Rare Steak Soup made with famous Vietnamese beef and chicken broth. But you can’t stop there… there’s also a Beef Ball Soup and a Vegetable Noodle Soup.
Aside from soups, Pho Dakao features other noodle dishes such as Stir Fried Yellow Noodles with red peppers, onions, broccoli, summer squash, carrots, baby corn, mushrooms and green beans. Not to mention, their Stir-Fried Flat Rice Noodles and Pad Thai Noodles.
“Since the very beginning, our focus has always been about the product. We pride ourselves in maintaining a high-quality standard for our foods and creating a clean and comfortable atmosphere for our customers. We realized that to succeed we must create a stable foundation. Our foundation is established by focusing on one customer at a time.”
Worcester residents can rest assured that there is a diverse gastronomic vibe that surrounds them. Chashu Ramen and Pho Dakao will not disappoint, and they cater to various tastes and regions around the globe.
Matt Olszewski is a freelance content and news writer based in Boston, MA. In his free time, Matt enjoys running, hiking or skiing. Matt is currently finishing up MPH degree program at Tufts University. He can be reached at mattoskier@gmail.com
