Loong Noodles

"Loong Noodles isn’t the only restaurant on St. Marks with a pink neon sign. Nor is it the only spot in the East Village where you can walk in and order a steamy bowl of noodle soup off of a tablet. But, this Chinese restaurant in particular is worth knowing about on days you might have packed a sweater when you really should’ve brought a jacket, or situations that generally call for a raise in body (and emotional) temperature. The menu has reliably good soups filled with stewed meats and noodles, as well as comforting pot stickers and scallion pancakes. You can very easily get out of here for under $20, and despite the chilly, shiny metallic finishes and magenta neon lighting, the steaming pots behind the counter and the wontons in chili oil should warm you right up. Food Rundown photo credit: Will Hartman Noodle Soup The noodle soup has a broth that’s clear, yet rich and savory enough to let you know there were bones boiled for hours in service of you feeling comfortable. It’s packed to the brim with your choice of rice or wheat noodles, and we’d suggest wheat—their rice noodles can be mushy. You’ll get your choice of protein in the soup. We like the beef version, at a minimum of medium spice level. photo credit: Will Hartman Wontons In Chili Oil This chili oil is more like a cumin oil that’s stained red with chilis. It’s rich in flavor. The wontons themselves are salty, the wrappers are silky, and the filling is bouncy. This is our favorite thing here, and we’d bet it’ll be yours, too. photo credit: Will Hartman Scallion Pancake If you’re looking for a crunchy snack, this will do the trick. It's served with a well-done fried egg, as a nice touch." - Will Hartman