All Our Favorite Cold Noodles in Honolulu

It’s been BLAZING hot lately. And on days when we’re practically melting into the sidewalk, there are few dishes that simultaneously satisfy and revive as well as a cool noodle bowl or salad. Case in point, the deliciously chilly creations below. Slurp!

Photo: Brie Thalmann

Artizen by MW

At MW Restaurant’s lunch spot, Chef Wade Ueoka takes chilled somen noodles from simple to sublime with the addition of mochi-crusted monchong ($20). Accompanied by a soy yuzu kosho vinaigrette, the dish offers a symphony of savory, sweet and zesty flavors and crunchy and chewy textures in every delicious bite. Assorted banchan (kim chee, takuan and cucumber) add sour and spicy notes. And there’s even a non-meat version that replaces the fish with Mrs. Cheng’s tofu. —Brie Thalmann, HONOLULU managing style editor

888 Kapi‘olani Blvd. Suite 102, Ala Moana, (808) 524-0499, artizenbymw.com, @artizenbymw

Photo: Brie Thalmann

Feast by Jon Matsubara

I love that the soba salad ($19) comes with a nice piece of salmon and has a great assortment of veggies. I like soba, but having sprouts, crispy kabocha, tomatoes, radish and cucumber, along with the fish, buckwheat noodles and sesame-ginger dressing makes this meal satisfying and a little heartier than a traditional Japanese soba. —Aaron K. Yoshino, HONOLULU staff photographer

2970 E. Mānoa Road, Mānoa, (808) 840-0488, feastrestauranthawaii.com, @feast808

Photo: Melissa Chang

Goma Tei

Many of you grew up with Goma Tei’s banbanji chicken, which is a cold noodle dish served with slices of chicken and a myriad of vegetables in their signature spicy sesame sauce. When Goma Tei introduced its cold udon with ginger chicken ($17.50), that totally dethroned banbanji for me. I love smooth udon noodles, which are even better cold, and I love ginger chicken. Sometimes I order this with extra ginger scallion sauce, too. —Melissa Chang, Frolic 

Multiple locations, gomatei.com, @gomateihawaii

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Ireh

Whenever I’m craving a refreshing slurp, Ireh’s green chewy noodles ($18) come to mind. Jjolmyeon are a little bit spicy, a little bit sweet and touch of sour from the vinegary gochujang sauce the noodles are tossed in. At Ireh, they add a mound of shredded cabbage and half an egg right on top for a texture adventure. —Thomas Obungen, HONOLULU special projects editor

629 Ke‘eaumoku St. #104, Ala Moana, (808) 943-6000, irehhawaii.com, @irehkoreanrestaurant

Photo: Mari Taketa

Junpuu

I’ve always liked Junpuu—specifically, its tomato ramen, which you can get vegan or meaty—but also its al fresco terrace seating. I like it even though it can get warm before sunset, which is where the cold tantan ramen ($15.95) comes in. Springy, chewy noodles are topped with sesame-nutty ground pork and menma bamboo shoots and surrounded by sturdy salad greens in a punchy shoyu dressing. This isn’t traditional, but it’s good and chill. And I still choose the terrace, looking out over Thomas Square, the lawn of Blaisdell Center and the lights of cars flowing down King Street and thinking, every time, what a beautiful city. —Mari Taketa, Frolic editor

1010 S. King St. Suite 108, (808) 260-1901, Ala Moana, junpuuramen.com, @junpuu_hawaii

Photo: Gregg Hoshida

Korea Garden

For me, summer begins when my normally sun-kissed face becomes sun-baked. This is the time of year when shave ice tastes best, mangoes taste sweetest, and I head to Korea Garden for my favorite cold noodles in beef broth ($20.99). In a large metallic bowl, an icy, lightly vinegared broth surrounds a generous serving of chewy arrowroot noodles topped with thinly sliced pickled radishes, cucumbers and apples. A squeeze bottle of hot mustard gives a little extra punch if needed.

A simple bowl of noodles becomes extra special when paired with a small order of perfectly grilled kalbi, one of the choices on the lunch special menu ($26.99). This comes with a cacophony of banchan that fills up the empty spaces on your table and creates a feast for the eyes and mouth. On my last visit, I counted nine side dishes that kept getting refilled by the lovely aunties of Korea Garden. —Gregg Hoshida, Frolic 

1683 Kalākaua Ave., (808) 949-9909, Ala Moana, @koreagardenhawaii

Photo: Diane Seo

Peace Café

I would recommend this noodle salad ($15), even to those who aren’t trying to eat healthy. With cold mulberry noodles as a base, it’s topped with a generous heaping of hijiki, yuzu carrots, seasoned bean sprouts, mung beans, sliced tomatoes and nori flakes. It’s then tossed with either a mild or spicy Asian dressing. (It comes on the side, so you can decide how much you want.) I crave this noodle dish, especially on hot days when I want something refreshing, yet hearty and flavorful. Oh, and if it matters, it’s vegan. —Diane Seo, HONOLULU editorial director

2239 S. King St., McCully-Moili‘ili, (808) 951-7555, peacecafehawaii.com, @peacecafehawaii

7-Eleven Hawai‘i

7-Eleven’s small somen salad smacks for the grab-and-go convenience (you can check inventory on the 7-Eleven Hawai’i app) and at just $3.79, the math is mathing, so you can add drinks and snacks for later. Plus, it’s meatless for all the awesome pescatarians out there! Cool somen noodles come loaded with slivers of cucumber, fishcake, egg and green onions. And there’s even a larger deluxe size if you’re extra hungry. —Christine Labrador, HONOLULU senior art director

Multiple locations, 7elevenhawaii.com, @7elevenhi

Read the rest of the series:

All Our Favorite Pizzas in Honolulu
All Our Favorite Burgers in Honolulu
All Our Favorite Matcha Drinks in Honolulu
All Our Favorite Shave Ices in Honolulu
All Our Favorite Sandwiches in Honolulu
All Our Favorite Fried Chicken in Honolulu