Monkey King Noodle Co.

Monkey King Noodle Co. Restaurant Review:

Deep Ellum's noodle boom is fully underway with the arrival of Monkey King Noodle Co. A walk-up window means there's little atmosphere to speak of, though there is a rooftop patio for al fresco dining when the weather allows. But that doesn't stop long lines from gathering at lunch and dinner to order generous portions of spicy noodle soup studded with tender chunks of beef, handmade dumplings bursting with rich pork broth, and pork wontons served with spicy chile sauce. The noodles are the star, perfectly toothsome and bouncy and just uneven enough in thickness to be evidently handmade (if watching noodle chef Andrew Chen pull and slap the dough through a tiny window wasn't enough proof for you). Vegetarians will be happy here, too, with chilled noodles in a complex black bean sauce or dumplings stuffed with shiitakes and tofu.