What Thai Noodle Soup is
Noodle soup in Thailand is street food and everyday food rather than a starter — a whole meal in one bowl, built from a long-simmered broth, a chosen noodle and a small pile of greens and sprouts on top.
Boat noodles take their name from the canal boats they were once sold from in central Thailand. The bowls were small so they could be passed across water without spilling, and the broth is dark, deeply savoury and heavily aromatic. Northern and southern regions each have their own bowls, which is why no two Thai noodle soups on a menu taste alike.
How we make it
We serve four. Boat Noodle Soup at $18.95 is the classic: bean sprouts, Chinese broccoli and garlic oil, with your choice of pork or beef.
Duck Rice Noodle Soup is rice noodles in duck broth with sliced duck and bean sprouts, topped with green onion. Spicy Tom Yum Noodle is ground chicken, noodles, bean sprouts and onion in hot-and-sour broth, finished with ground peanuts. Wonton Soup is chicken and shrimp wontons in broth with bok choy, green onions and cilantro — noodles can be added.
Our Khao Soi, printed as Noodle Curry Soup, is a fifth bowl and has a page of its own.
On the menu
- Boat Noodle Soup$18.95
- Duck Rice Noodle Soup$19.95
- Spicy Tom Yum Noodle$18.45
- Wonton Soup$16.45
Questions we get asked
- What is the difference between boat noodles and pho?
- Pho is Vietnamese: a clear, sweet-spiced beef broth with star anise and cinnamon, served with a plate of raw herbs to add yourself. Boat noodles are Thai: a darker, saltier, more intensely savoury broth, served already dressed with Chinese broccoli, bean sprouts and garlic oil. Pho is delicate; boat noodles are concentrated.
- Which noodle soup should I order first?
- Boat Noodle Soup if you want the classic Thai bowl and the deepest broth. Duck Rice Noodle Soup if you want something cleaner and richer at once. Spicy Tom Yum Noodle if you want the hot-and-sour flavour of tom yum as a full meal. Wonton Soup if you are ordering for someone who wants something gentle.
- Are your noodle soups spicy?
- Only the Spicy Tom Yum Noodle is built around heat. The others are savoury rather than hot. We cook to four spice levels — mild, medium, hot and spicy — so tell us when you order.
- Can I get a Thai noodle soup to go?
- Yes. Order online for pickup or call (425) 967-6531. We are at 2902 164th St SW #C4, Lynnwood, WA 98087, open from 11AM daily.