Ab SchThanh Thanh: 10718 101 St NW
Atmosphere
Upon entering Thanh Thanh, we first noticed the lovely decor. I’m talking water feature in the corners, portrait of a man fishing for some kind of giant carp and all the trappings you’d expect of a place that has “made it” in the noodle business. We were seated near the window, which gave us a perfect view of the passers-by and goings-on along the bustling thoroughfare of 101st.
We were promptly greeted upon entering, and it seemed like mere seconds before tea and ice water were on our table. The menu is laid out very well, and is very easy to navigate despite the lack of numbers. They even provide an English title for each dish, which is a nice touch for Anglophones like ourselves. One thing to note, maybe it was just because we were there at 1:30pm on a Wednesday, but Thanh Thanh seems to be incredibly popular with seniors. We’re not sure why.
The Noodles
Barret: I ended up trying the satay beef soup. I had only tried this dish once before at a different restaurant. The last time I tried it, I’m pretty sure I got my yearly allowance of sodium in a single meal. But I figured it’s time to get back on the horse. I’m delighted to report that this was not the case with Thanh Thanh’s satay soup. The broth is thicker than your typical Pho, with a medium amount of spice to it and just enough sodium to keep your blood pressure in the range of a moderately active 65 year old. The broth is also very peanutty — you wouldn’t be able to sneak this into your kid’s daycare. The beef that comes with it is very lean, so opt out if you’re looking for something closer to brisket. The noodles are the typical vermicelli type. They soaked up the flavour of the broth and complemented the soup well.
Evan: Not to be outdone by Barret, I tried the satay chicken soup. I was quite impressed with this soup despite how ugly it looks. In the land of soups, satay soup fell out of the ugly tree and probably has no friends. That being said it, was fucking delicious. The broth offered a spicy assault followed by a sweet peanut party. The thickness of the broth seems to leave you feeling more satisfied than your regular noodle soup, so I highly recommend this dish if you forget to eat breakfast or will be having a late dinner with that great guy or gal you met on Tinder last week. The chicken in the soup was deliciously tender and complemented by the healthy portion of noodles Thanh Thanh supplies. If I had to describe the soup in two words: ugly satisfying.
Overall
We would totally recommend checking out Thanh Thanh if you are not already familiar with this Chinatown staple. With its modern appeal and friendly staff, it’s the type of place you can take a classy date without dropping a ton of money to impress. They accept credit cards, so no need to bring cash.
Tired of eating your feelings? Join us for noodles every Wednesday around 1pm. Shoot Noodle Nation a text at 780-239-3481(We really need to make some new friends.)
