Rice-N-Noodle

Recently, there was an article in the Star-Telegram about Las Vegas Trail in Fort Worth and how it used to be the hip cool place to live. The time period of its reign was sometime in the 80's. Picture bowling teams, Dales, Rhondas. and lots of rolled up sleeves on suits. That's what was going on in Fort Worth's little Vegas. Although by the look of things now, it would have been more appropriately named "Reno Trail".

Near all of the hustle and bustle, shopping centers popped up. Since the heyday of all the hustling and bustling, these shopping centers have filled themselves with new business unrelated to the Miami Vice like atmosphere that is evoked by drives down the scenic trail. On Camp Bowie West, just past the trail, there is such a shopping center filled with a delight unrelated to the sin-filled side of Fort Worth.

That is Thai Rice-N-Noodle...and Wings. Rice-N-Noodle is a very small restaurant with less than twenty tables and 40 square feet. In spite of that, however, it is a hugely successful place and many people, including you folks (based on the emails I've received), believe it contains some of the best Thai in town.

I've been for lunch a number of times and, therefore, have been witness to the scrumptious and affordable lunch special. The lunch special includes tea, an egg roll, an entree and rice if the meal is not a noodle dish. With a tip you can get out of here for 10 bucks. Without tipping, you'll never make it out of Las Vegas - what happens here stays here.

On two occasions I had the pad thai (Thai for "hide the dog"). You have the option to select your spiciness from a scale of 1-5, with 1 being the mildest. From my experience, one is two is three. Not that I would order a 1, but my wife did. It was as spicy as my three. I have reason to believe the secret ingredient in the 4 is what Chesapeake uses to frac. With whatever spice you get, assuming you can taste you food, the pad thai is delicious. The 3 had a lot of spice but I really enjoyed it. Plus the egg roll was really crispy and hot both times.

On a separate occasion, I tried the chicken and basil. This is a dish made of ground chicken, basil, bell peppers, spice, and spice...and some spice. I'm not a fan of ground chicken and only ordered this because the Star-Telegram told me to. This review should serve as notice as to why you should listen to what I say and not what certain other purveyors of food news say. This was my least favorite thing I've had or seen here. It tasted fine but ground chicken is weird. It had a weird texture. That's all I'll say because that's all I remember.

Other diners that have been with me have had other dishes that were also good. I can't remember what they had, but that's not important. They also serve wings. Presumably, chicken.

Rice-N-Noodle gets a 3 Hole rating because its Thai - in West Fort Worth, and the Las Vegas Trail area adds some enchantment.

Rice-N-Noodle is located at 9094 Camp Bowie West. You know you'll there when you start to see the mullets of those who never left or the Toyota dealership on the south side of the road.

Let me know what you think and check it out if you haven't been.