Justin S.
Yelp
Looking for a quick work lunch this Friday noon, I stopped by Wen's. Entering the establishment, receiving a table, ordering, and receiving my order took a grand total of 5 minutes, an impressively fast pace of service.
My order consisted of the following:
- 葱油饼 Scallion pancake 6.78
- 正宗牛腩拉面 Beef Flank Ramen 14.89
The scallion pancake, a savory crepe-like appetizer, seemed a bit uneven with its scallion distribution. Bites with tasted incredibly fragrant, while those without made do with the flavor of the pan-fried dough, which admittedly still tasted delectable. The pancake's texture seemed on the softer side, which may put off those who want them extra-crispy. Nonetheless, this seemed solid.
The Beef Flank Ramen, with baby bok choy, marinated beef flank, and (in my case) additional spiciness, tasted like a savory, home cooked meal. The broth carried hints of star anise and other aromatics, but still seemed relatively clean and light on the palate. The marinade had seeped into the depths of the flank, complementing the lighter broth with a richer burst of soy sauce, along with aromatics, most notably star anise (hey, it's basically ingredient #2 in Chinese soy sauce marinades, with #1 being the soy sauce).
For a quick lunch, this is exactly what I want. The price point seems on par for the cuisine, but thankfully not the area (Newbury's expensive zzz).