Chinese Noodle Café

A clean, well-lit place that serves straightforward Chinese dishes, the Noodle Café has made itself a welcome addition to the Loop's never-ending ethnic options. Inexpensive entrées include the usual suspects -- sweet-and-sour chicken, cashew chicken, pepper steak, fried tofu with vegetables, General Tso's chicken -- but the five noodle dishes are the real reason to stop in, especially during the winter months. Generous amounts of fresh cilantro, celery and carrots add grace notes to the broth and noodles; takeout servings are large enough to last for two or even three meals. Owner Peggy Hou has been in the St. Louis restaurant business for more than 25 years, and in this little storefront spot she's got another winner.