If you’re keen to add some spontaneity to your gastronomic adventures, turn to the person behind you in an eatery queue and say: “So… what ya getting?”
At Moro Noodle Bar, a compact new spot at Maerua Mall in Windhoek serving breakfast bao buns, chow mein and Beijing beef, a good looking guy in a ‘Star Wars’ T-shirt has some recommendations.
“I’m getting the ramen and my sister is having the prawn lemon noodles.” While I appreciate the aroma of the latter when I walk in, I stick with the ramen because who doesn’t love to slurp Japanese noodle soup?
“Happiness is eating noodles,” reads Moro’s menu and they have quite a few options for glee. They also have a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it flagship spot on Independence Avenue which evolved from a coffee and noodle food truck established in 2019.
“I introduced myself to Asian foods while working and studying in Europe. I have a love for Asian cuisine, especially Korean cuisine,” says Moro founder Yolandé Varela. “Namibian food is fantastic. I have a soft spot for our traditional cuisine and love cooking it but it can, at times, be limiting.”
Inspired by a variety of Asian food cultures, Moro revels in the opportunity to experiment with flavours.
“My aim with Moro is to give our local chefs the opportunity to gain experience in Asian style dishes,” says Varela. “My hope for our customers is that they enjoy the wild flavours of herbs and vegetables grown locally but which can also be used for Asian cuisine.”
Varela recommends the steamed or fried dumplings as well as the spicy Thai noodles (Pad Mee Korat).
For Latoya Kaereho, who is a friendly face behind the counter at Moro at Maerua Mall, the creamy Thai chicken and ginger is the way to go alongside the bestselling Beijing beef and pork or chicken ramen.
While Moro has a neat duo of wooden tables for those who want to eat in-house, my order of dumplings and chicken ramen travels well and is hearty, happy eating when I get home.
“I think it’s the flavour,” says Kaereho, considering the local trend towards more Asian inspired menu items and eateries. “No one likes bland things.”
“I think it’s the adventure. It’s hype, it’s new and it’s fresh.”
– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com
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