Noodle Bars Rise Following Pokemon, Snapple, and Wasabi Everything

Carissa Chesanek

​We have been seeing a lot of Asian noodle bars open recently. These trendy little places like Gigi, Sakaya Kitchen and the soon-to-open American Noodle Bar are the latest lust for the Miami area.

Michael Bloise, owner and chef of the American Noodle Bar at 6730 Biscayne Blvd, says the increased love of Asian noodles has a lot to do with the "success of David Chang's New York eateries," however that is only part of it.

"I think if you look deeper, you'll find the answer is owed to something akin to cultural 'movement' that's been creeping into American life like a glacial Ninja. I mean, without our even knowing it, Asian culture has crept into and almost seamlessly blended with out normal everyday lives -- from Snapple Green Tea to acupuncture to Pokemon to karaoke to wasabi flavored everything -- little bits and pieces of Asian culture are around us everywhere."

The reason for this Asian influence here in Miami? Bloise says it's a mixture of things. "Maybe because there's a simple style and sensibility to most things Asian. Maybe we like something quick, light with healthy fresh ingredients meant to sustain without gimmickry or pomp. Or maybe times are tough nowadays, and noodles are good cheap eats."

For only $7, at the American Noodle Bar, you can get a noodle bowl jam-packed with tasty noodles, your choice of veggies or meat, and the sauce of your choice. Gigi has a steak chow fun noodle bowl for $16 with steak, mushroom, eggplant and cabbage broth. Sakaya Kitchen has a delicious Miso Chicken Noodle Soup with Soba Noodle for $5.49.

No wonder so many people prefer this kind of grub.