Stretch the Noodle

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Stretch the Noodle
The food cart in 2023
Map
Restaurant information
EstablishedMay 2016 (2016-05)
Owner(s)
  • Xuemei Simard
  • Duane Simard
Food typeChinese[1]
CityPortland
StateOregon
Postal/ZIP Code97204
CountryUnited States
Coordinates45°30′58″N 122°40′27″W / 45.5160°N 122.6743°W / 45.5160; -122.6743
Websitestretch-the-noodle.com

Stretch the Noodle is a restaurant in Portland, Oregon.

Description

Stretch the Noodle, most known for serving Chinese-style hand-stretched noodles, operates from a food cart in downtown Portland's Midtown Beer Garden,[2] and previously elsewhere near the Morrison Bridge.[3] In 2018, Andrea Damewood of the Portland Mercury described Stretch the Noodle as an "unassuming cart with a chalkboard menu and a small speaker playing tinny Chinese music on Southwest Washington".[4] The pale yellow food cart has hand-pulled noodle illustrations on the side.[5]

The chao mian has fried Ota tofu, bell peppers, carrots, mushrooms, and onions.[6] Various noodle options also include chili oil, herbs, and minced pork as ingredients. Beef soup, Chinese crepes (jianbing),[4] dumplings (including pork and shrimp), and stir fries have also been on the menu.[7][8] The la mian noodles in Sichuan beef soup has braised beef, bok choy, and a broth of five-spice powder and simmered bones.[4]

History

Xuemei Simard, who studied the technique of noodle pulling,[9] is a co-owner with her husband Duane.[6] The business was established in May 2016. In May 2023, the couple announced plans to retire. The food cart, equipment, recipes, and 30 days of training were listed for sale for $80,000.[10] The cart operates at the Midtown Beer Garden, as of August 2023.[11]

Reception

In 2018, Michael Russell of The Oregonian included Stretch the Noodle in a list of "Portland's best new food carts",[12] and ranked the restaurant number four in the newspaper's list of "Portland's best hand-pulled noodles".[5] In 2019, the Portland Mercury included Stretch the Noodle in a list of the city's 50 best multicultural restaurants and food carts,[13] and Time Out's Jen Woo included the business in an overview of "the best food trucks in Portland to get your grub on".[14]

Jenni Moore of Eater Portland included the chao mian in a 2020 list of 13 "standout" vegetarian meals in Portland.[6] The website's staff included Stretch the Noodle in a 2021 overview "Where to Eat and Drink in Downtown Portland",[7] and Nick Woo and Brooke Jackson-Glidden included the business in a 2022 "Guide to Portland's Most Outstanding Food Carts".[8] The business was also included in Eater Portland's 2022 overview of recommended bars and restaurants in downtown Portland[15] and 2025 list of the city's best affordable restaurants.[16]

The Vancouver Sun's Dave Pottinger recommended Stretch the Noodle as a Portland eatery in his 2021 overview of reasons to visit Oregon. He said the restaurant's noodles "are so popular they attract a steady line".[17] Katherine Chew Hamilton of Portland Monthly included Stretch the Noodle for lunch in northwest Portland.[18] Zuri Anderson ranked the business number four in iHeart's 2022 list of the highest-rated Portland restaurants for cheap eats.[19]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Stretch the Noodle". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on January 8, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  2. ^ Russell, Michael (2023-08-15). "Midtown Beer Garden, Portland's oldest (and newest) food cart pod, holds grand opening Sunday". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  3. ^ Centoni, Danielle. "Third Avenue Food Cart Pod, Downtown Portland, Portland, Oregon, U.S. - Street Food Review". Condé Nast Traveler. Archived from the original on 2021-05-13. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  4. ^ a b c Damewood, Andrea (2018-01-24). "Stretch The Noodle Will Stretch Your Stomach, Not Your Budget". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on 2021-10-12. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  5. ^ a b Russell, Michael (2018-11-01). "Portland's best hand-pulled noodles, ranked". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2021-08-21. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  6. ^ a b c Moore, Jenni (2020-09-09). "13 Standout Vegetarian Meals in Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  7. ^ a b "Where to Eat and Drink in Downtown Portland". Eater Portland. 2015-09-16. Archived from the original on 2022-01-04. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  8. ^ a b Woo, Nick (2015-06-10). "A Guide to Portland's Most Outstanding Food Carts". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-09-18. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  9. ^ "KOIN's Cart of the Week: Stretch the Noodle". KOIN. March 6, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  10. ^ "Legendary Portland Food Cart for Sale, Earns $500,000 Per Year". Portland Monthly. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  11. ^ Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (2023-08-15). "The Revamped Southwest Fifth Food Cart Pod Reopens August 20". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  12. ^ Russell, Michael (2018-09-13). "Portland's best new food carts of 2018". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  13. ^ Damewood, Andrea (2019-07-04). "Celebrate the Best of America with 50 of Portland's Best Multi-Cultural Restaurants and Food Carts". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  14. ^ Woo, Jen (2019-11-05). "17 Best Food Trucks in Portland to Try Right Now". Time Out Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-10-16. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  15. ^ "Where to Eat and Drink in Downtown Portland". Eater Portland. 2015-09-16. Archived from the original on 2022-01-04. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
  16. ^ Yentch, Katrina (2015-07-17). "The Best Affordable Restaurants in Portland". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
  17. ^ Pottinger, Dave (2021-12-30). "7 reasons to visit Oregon". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  18. ^ Hamilton, Katherine Chew (2022-03-23). "Where to Grab Lunch No Matter Where You Are in Portland, Oregon". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2022-03-27. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  19. ^ Anderson, Zuri (2022-02-23). "This Is The Best Spot For Cheap Eats In Portland". iHeart. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
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