Punsak Puncharoen, professionally known “worldwide” according to his press kit as Chef Oudy, has wowed diners from Bangkok to Douglaston, NY — including the former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger.
With that knowledge in hand, once you sample Chef Oudy’s fare at the new Noodlefan in South Orange, you’ll be tempted to say, “I’ll be back” (sorry, we couldn’t help ourselves).
The South Orange Noodlefan location — in the former Family Buffet site — enjoyed a grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting on Saturday, Dec. 3, with none other than noodle aficianado and South Orange Village President Sheena Collum presiding, along with Bob Zuckerman of the South Orange Village Center Alliance.
“What an amazing day — the restaurant was packed and the food was delicious,” wrote Collum after the event. “I’m in my stretch pants for the night! Head on over friends, this place won’t disappoint and as you can tell from the video [see above, courtesy of Lauren Boyer], I’m just so excited for them. I always love ribbon cuttings because I know it takes a lot of courage and passion for owners to invest time and money into a small business and our South Orange community is so blessed. This was their day and what a special day it was!”
For Chef Oudy, Noodlefan in South Orange is a dream come true: “I’ve been dreaming of putting up my own noodle shop and now it is going to be a reality,” said the chef in a release.
This Noodlefan joins six others across New Jersey. In 2012, the Bangkok-born chef, along with partners Jess Arteche and Ruben Amarante, envisioned the chain as a way to bring Chinatown noodle shops to locations outside the city, with the addition Thai and other Asian dishes.
The menu consists of Thai, Filipino, Malaysian and Chinese wok and soup noodles, dumplings, dim sum, Chef Specials such a s crispy salmon with sweet tangy sauce on rice topping and smoked pork hock (pata tim-Thai style) on rice topping, Bulalo, beef bone and stew, crispy pork with Chinese broccoli, goat soup, oxtail and tom yum seafood, and more.
See the full Noodlefan menu at this link.
Noodlefan is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and will soon offer free delivery with a minimum $15 order.
Noodlefan, 14 Academy Street, South Orange, NJ, 973-313-0003, www.noodlefanusa.com.
Click on photos (courtesy of Shana Teitelbaum) to enlarge:
