"Nine Way, in Redmond, has a menu full of noodles and dumplings. The Nine Way noodles are the house version of dan dan noodles, and like the other noodle bowls can be customized for spice level, garnishes, and extra toppings. Nine Way also has hard-to-find sweetwater noodles, which are both spicy and sweet with an udon-like chew. Another specialty is the Chengdu zajiang noodles with peas (a soft, yellow variety). Wontons are the way to go in the dumpling section, available in a variety of spicy, numbing, and sour configurations. Also recommended is the maocai, a customizable hot pot that’s cooked in the kitchen, saving you the work at the table." - Jay Friedman