Noodle Box: Vietnamese, Cantonese + Thai Flavours in Newlands Village

If you find yourself craving the flavours of Asia but can’t get on a plane (not easy these days!), get yourself to the next best thing – Noodle Box in Newlands. The restaurant is owned by Christo Bornman, who was so inspired by authentic Asian cuisine during his travels there, that he came home and opened a string of restaurants celebrating its unique flavours and freshness.

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Sushi Box is the other half of his business, and some of the dishes at Noodle Box are also available at Sushi Box in Constantia. (Another Noodle Box is set to open at the Lifestyle on Kloof centre, in January 2022.) Christo prides himself on using the freshest, most sustainable ingredients (all the chicken used is free range) and handmade noodles. The restaurant offers something every member of the family will love and all dietary requirements are catered for – gluten-free and vegan options available, and all meals are halaal-friendly.

What’s on the menu?

The menu takes you on a whirlwind tour of the food of Vietnam, China, Thailand and Japan, offering starters such as salmon potstickers with black vinegar and Korean chilli oil; prawn wontons with hot-and-sour sauce; street-style chilli squid, and panko prawn poppers with a sweet Indonesian soya dipping sauce.

For mains, there are three vegan dishes, including wok-fried mushrooms with house-made udon noodles; wok-fried soy rice with crispy tofu and sweet Indonesian soya sauce; and soy rice with extra-spicy silken tofu, seasonal vegetables, coriander and spring onions.

Staff are happy to make recommendations, and the prawn pad Thai suggested by the super-helpful and friendly manager, Martha Phiri, hits all the spots. Perfectly cooked noodles with a generous number of prawns in a spicy, slightly sweet tamarind sauce, with carrots, baby marrows and red onion. The addition of toasted coconut flakes and crunchy peanuts is a touch of genius, adding great texture and flavour to an already standout dish.

There are three other noodles dishes, all vegetarian – but you can add chicken, beef, mushrooms, prawns or squid to any of these. Or go for the nasi goreng, a traditional Indonesian dish of rice, topped with a fried egg.

Noodle Box isn’t licensed, but Wine Concepts is conveniently located next door, so you can buy a bottle to accompany your meal (and you don’t have to worry about corkage).

Look up!

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Once you’ve made your choice, take a few minutes to admire your surroundings; the restaurant is decorated in calming tones of wood reminiscent of Japanese onsens, or bathhouses, with bar-style seating inside and a few round tables outside, perfect for sharing if you can’t decide and want to try everything. The ceiling is decorated with traditional blue-and-white plates, which makes for an interesting discussion point until your food arrives, that is!

Opening times Monday – Sunday, 11.30am – 8pm
Contact 060 704 3499, [email protected]
Address 8 Cardiff Castle Centre, Kildare Road + Main Street, Newlands, Cape Town
Order through DinePlan

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