Noah’s Kitchen
18 Harvard Street
Brookline, MA 02445
M-F 11:30-9pm Sa-Sun-12-9pm
Takeout and delivery/ Limited indoor dining and RSVP
Noah’s Kitchen, with an emphasis on homey, Chinese, mainly Sichuan cuisine, quietly opened last year in the former ChoBee Hoy Realty space in Brookline Village. The restaurant has a mix of East meets West modern and simple décor.
Their use of thoughtful touches is seen from their table setting to their use of a traditional metal teapot and simple plate ware, which was very thoughtful and attractive. Currently dine-in reservations are limited but highly recommended. We enjoyed the soothing scheme of blondish yellow and red hues around the restaurant.
Once seated, we asked for recommendations, but we were told that all their food is made thoughtfully and with care, with an emphasis on using fresh ingredients. We decided to try their Bang Bang Chicken ($9.99), Three Braised Meats over Rice ($16.99), and their Signature Beef Noodle Soup ($16.99).
The Three Braised Meats over Rice came out first. It was a mix of braised meats, including tripe and beef over rice, served with half a boiled egg and some leafy vegetables. This bowl would have been better if we had a bit more sauce. The tripe was tender and delicious. Next came the Bang Bang Chicken, which has origins in Hanyang in Hubei Province China but is a widely known and popular as a cold, Sichuan appetizer dish. It is called ”bang bang” chicken due to the sounds made from the hammer to flatten and loosen the chicken muscles. Sichuan vendors commonly serve this cold chicken drizzled with a spicy and nutty sauce that is easy to eat. We quickly devoured this dish, as we really loved the well balanced and delicious sauce. We happily and greedily used up the leftover Bang Bang Chicken sauce with the meats from the rice bowl.
The last and final ordered item came out which was the Signature Beef Noodle Soup. Garbanzo beans on top were a big surprise, but we dug into the aromatic and savory soup. We drank every last drop. The noodles were perfectly chewy, and the braised beef soup impressed my friend, who hails from Taipei, Taiwan.
This is a solid new addition serving Sichuan Cuisine food outside of Chinatown. Though the price point is a bit higher, the high food quality and appealing atmosphere and décor are worth dining at the restaurant. We look forward to coming back to try their other dishes.