
"I confirmed with the owners that Very Fresh Noodles, the Chinese hand-pulled noodle shop that launched inside Chelsea Market in 2016, has signed a lease for a standalone Midtown space at 980 Avenue of the Americas (between W. 36th and W. 37th) and tentatively plans to open in June 2020. Diners can expect the fan-favorite dishes that built the shop's reputation — the tingly and spicy cumin lamb noodles, Taiwanese beef noodle soup, and spicy vegan noodles with mock duck — alongside new appetizers the owners have added, including chili-garlic seaweed salad, crispy, tingly chicken wings seasoned with over 20 spices, and a house-made take on Liangfen (cold mung bean glass noodles) shaped like ribbons; they're also promising long-awaited dumplings in pork-and-chive and vegan versions. The new roughly 830-square-foot space will seat 23 and is intended to offer a more tailored experience inspired by Japanese record bars or 'jazz kissas,' with the owners hoping most customers will be walk-ins who eat inside to avoid soggy noodles; this marks the first time the business will operate outside Chelsea Market after starting in a 90-square-foot stall in 2016 and expanding within the market." - Erika Adams