In the heart of West London’s Ealing Broadway stands Coco Noodle, looking like a little Oriental lantern brightly beckoning you in to explore its tasty wonders.

The Venue
The bright orange sign with its silver quirky logo in big bold letters make it look almost comical, as if plucked straight out of a storybook city in the Far East. Love or hate the decor, something compels people in as it’s full to overflowing on the park style benches and large wooden pine tables. The menus also dabble as a handy placemat which are kept company by wooden disposable chopsticks. Look around to see more bright orange with a splash of dark green on one of the walls, with a different view from every angle. The restrained layout plays on the simplest of feng shui designs, with an open plan front counter decorated with a lucky cat. To the right is a pinhole window that leads to kitchen though a swing door, from which every so often a gust of mist will appear.

The Atmosphere
Crammed to the brim with hungry pockets of people, this busy restaurant is simply buzzing with chatter, everyone from the lone office worker dining on dim sum to girls on hen nights filling up the seats. Staff are rushed off their feet most of the time, so patience is required. However, staff are very friendly and accommodating and will find a place to squeeze in a party even when it looks like all seats are filled.

The restaurant isn’t very relaxed, and once you have the server’s attention it’s quick to order and quick to serve with little time for amends before waiting staff get impatient and move on to the party opposite. This is where knowing the menu from a prior visit comes in handy.

The Food
The menu layout is easy to follow with clear headings for each type of dish, such as rice, noodles or soups. The price range should suit all budgets from £2 - £6 for a starter or a side dish and £4.50 - £7 for a main. A group of two to four can easily dine for under £30 or £10 a head, however you can’t make reservations as this is a first come first served affair. The most popular dishes are steamed dumplings, gorgeously soft and filled with melt-in-the-mouth minced pork infused with herbs and spices and a little spring onion, giving it a slightly sweet flavour. This is served with a rice wine vinegar dipping sauce and decorated beautifully with Chinese lettuce and finely sliced cucumber and carrot. For those who prefer seafood, sesame prawn toast comes in a plentiful portion of little square shaped slices filed with diced prawns and sea salt and deep fried in a sesame seed coating, making them crunchy on the outside with the delicate combination of gooey softness within. The dish is accompanied with a side of sweet chilli dipping sauce that brings out the full flavors with a delight in each bite.

For the mains, a wonderful Coco Raman (a warm spicy Japanese-style clear soup) with large soft udon noodles and a mix of tender sliced beef and shellfish (which includes mussels, squid and crab sticks) making this a comforting dish. Accompanied by the light flavours of aromatic spices with freshly chopped chilli, the soup has a hint of deep and warming heat in every mouthful and is served in a generous rustic bowl.

Traditional Japanese chowder (served with steamed fish, shellfish and seaweed) and the special curry dishes also delight. Tempura comes in a generous serving and never fails to arrive promptly.

The Drink
There’s a good list of sprits ranging from £4 - £6 and soft drinks around £2 - £3 along with the odd Japanese fruit cocktail. There’s a small beer and wine list and for those who go for the more holistic approach there is always the choice of green or jasmine with unlimited refills.

The Last Word
Coco Noodle Bar is a favorite amongst Ealing and serves up a real variety of no nonsense Japanese, Thai, and Chinese cuisine.

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