Last week, I discussed Chop Sushi, a small poke shop located on Prince Street. Poke is one of the recent phenomena to take America by storm along with other trends like smoothie bowls and green smoothies. Another trend, ramen, has been gaining popoularity recently in the United States. Though many college students may associate ramen with the cheap, pre-prepared noodles, ramen can also be prepared as a proper, delicious dish served in restaurants. One shop in Lancaster city, Issei Noodle, has been serving up ramen and other noodle dishes for years. Issei Noodle is the favorite of many frequent city goers who seek a quality noodle restaurant near the city center.
Located just off of Queen Street, Issei Noodle has a prime location. For events near Penn Square, Central Market, or Prince Street, Issei is easily within walking distance. If you happen to be staying at the Marriott, it is no more than a one minute walk! In addition to its street location, the restaurant is inside a larger building that makes it feel tucked away from the city. The venue is perfect if you do not want to go far but want to get away from the busy city energy.
Issei Noodle on Queen Street
As I had mentioned before, Issei’s prime specialty is ramen. Some popular varieties include miso ramen, shoyu ramen, and chashu ramen. As a fan of spicy foods, my go-to dish is the spicy tan-tan ramen, which incorporates sliced and ground pork, bamboo, pork broth, and plenty of chili oil. For those seeking a bit of a sweeter dish, the shoyu ramen is quite excellent. The shoyu also has sliced pork, but has a neat looking Naruto (fishcake), and has a soy pork broth base. Regardless of what ramen dish you go for, Issei will be sure not to disappoint. Since there are so many varieties, you are almost guaranteed to find one that you will love!
Miso Ramen with Naruto (Fishcake with Pink Swirl)
Beyond the ramen, Issei has a solid lineup of other noodle dishes. The yaki udon, with perfectly-cooked chicken, sweet soy sauce, and thick udon noodles, is an excellent choice. Issei also offers the classic Pad Thai, in case you feel like sticking to something familiar. Personally, I enjoy the yakisoba dishes, which incorporate the thinner soba noodle with a decadent variety of toppings.
Pad Thai
Issei Noodle is a restaurant truly about the food. The decor and location is simple and quaint, but the food will be sure to take your breath away. As a whole, I highly recommend Issei Noodle for a quick stop near the city center.