Founded in Ohio, I Love Noods is a restaurant that offers a fun take on the usual pan-Asian spot, and a new location is set to open on across from the Steamboat Natchez dock on Decatur Street in February. Ownership partner and general manager Jaclyn Nguyen recently told What Now New Orleans that her partners developed the I Love Noods concept as a reaction to the straight-laced approach taken by most ramen noodle spots.
“They wanted to do something that was spunky, a little bit fun, a little bit different, and laid back instead of the usual, like very serious ramen noodle concepts,” she said.
In addition to ramen, the new restaurant will feature classic Japanese appetizers, Chinese dim sum dishes and Vietnamese pho. Currently, the beverage program is focused on Taiwanese boba teas created with housemade syrups. Nguyen said making the drinks from scratch differs from other boba tea places that use powered drink mixes or juice concentrates. The drinks can be ordered from a self-serve kiosk, and the rest of the restaurant will offer full table service.
Nguyen added there are plans to add a full bar and potentially expand the menu in the future.
“We’re trying to bring something new, different, fresh and really celebrate food from all these different Asian cuisines that some people don’t really know,” she said.
