Pam N.
Google
Flavor. Explosion. Achieved.
Three diners entered Nudo: a vegan, an omnivore, and a cautious eater. It sounds like the setup for a joke, but the punchline was a full table, happy bellies, and one life-altering fried rice.
We were visiting our daughter in Spokane - she’s vegan and new to the city - and she suggested Nudo because it’s on her list of confirmed vegan-friendly spots. She’d ordered takeout before but had never eaten there in person, so we were all curious what the full experience would be like.
The vegan dove into a steaming bowl of ramen so fragrant it could lure a cartoon character by the nose. Mr. Cautious, ever true to his name, tested the waters with gyoza in every variety - none of which required bravery - all of which were devoured. I ordered the pineapple fried rice with eel, not knowing I was about to have a small spiritual awakening.
You know how food critics toss around phrases like “flavor explosion”? I always figured that was just flowery filler until I had that first bite of fried rice. Suddenly I got it. I saw the light. The eel and rice were seasoned differently, each fantastic on its own, but when they joined forces... it was like culinary alchemy. Think yellow paint and blue paint making green: something entirely new and even better. It was a weirdly emotional moment for a rice dish.
We shared a parade of appetizers: veggie tempura, edamame, and, for the sake of adventure, a chicken skin skewer. I imagined it would be crispy like bacon, but it turned out to be crisp on the outside and soft in the middle. Basically bacon’s moody, introspective cousin. Not my favorite bite, but points for novelty.
Drinks? A delight. I had something sparkly with pear and mint that hit that perfect not-too-sweet, not-too-minty balance. The cocktail list made me want to try three more, but I had to save room for leftovers (which, by the way, made a spectacular breakfast the next morning).
Watching our daughter - the vegan who’d only known Nudo through takeout containers - finally experience the full dine-in glory was honestly the highlight of the night. She was thrilled, we were stuffed, and the fried rice nearly made me see God.
The food sealed the deal: next time we’re in Spokane, I’m not asking if we can go back to Nudo. I’m asking what time they open.