Little Village Noodle House

Located in Chinatown across The Actor's Group, Little Village Noodle House is one of many Chinese restaurants in the area, yet it stands out in many little ways. For one, the restaurant has it's own parking lot for their customers. For another, the dishes are slightly more pricey and are smaller than average, yet they offer an array of food. For vegetarians, their menu offering is a delight.

Ambiance:
Little Village is a cutely decorated restaurant and very nicely kept. It is particularly nice how the daily specials are listed on a chalkboard written neatly above the kitchen area, where it is easy for most people to see. It seems to be the favorite of many, since every time we've come here (even on weekdays) the restaurant is bustling. Despite the popularity of the restaurant, we've never had a hard time being seated, even without reservations.

Service:
The service has always been excellent here. The servers do not seem to be assigned to any particular area; rather, they work together. They do their utmost to make sure that the customer is satisfied. This was on display during the last time we came. We were seated next to a couple who was dissatisfied with their dish. The man told the server that he wanted them to re-cook the shrimp in a very specific manner. With unerring grace, the server apologized and sent the food back. When he took the food back to the man, he asked if the shrimp was to his taste. It was not, and the food was sent back yet again. Though the food ended up not to the man's taste in the end, the server showed unfailing concern that the man be satisfied.

In our case, the servers are always friendly. They don't make us feel guilty about asking for more rice and there is always someone around to ask for more.

Food:
We ordered three dishes: tofu with bamboo fungus, choy sum with black mushroom, and shoyu tofu with leek and chili.

• Tofu with bamboo fungus: We get this dish nearly every time we come here. It's one of those dishes that is difficult to find anywhere else. In concept, it is very simple. Fried tofu, bamboo fungus (which looks almost disturbingly like those rubber finger tips used in offices to flip through paper), Chinese peas, and bits of garlic. That's all. But somehow so very delicious.
  
• Choy sum with black mushroom: A very pretty dish! It was one of the daily specials. Came on a bed of choy sum with large shiitake mushrooms on top. The portion size was generous and the dish was overall very tasty.
• Shoyu tofu with leek and chili: We ordered this dish almost on a whim and had no idea what to expect. What a pleasant surprise. Firm tofu sliced thinly with slices of leek. Having never tried leek, it was surprising to find that it tastes like an onion, but much milder. The texture is pleasantly tender. Couldn't stop eating this one. Just don't eat the chili. It's extremely hot, as one of us found out.

On a side note, the food also seems to be less greasy and salty overall.

Value:
Though the portions are a little smaller than average and the prices are higher than at most Chinese restaurants, Little Village is a must for those looking for high quality Chinese food. It is wonderfully vegetarian-friendly. Our meal came out to around $30, but we had enough leftovers for one of us to take for lunch the next day.

Overall:
One of our favorite Chinese restaurants. The service is excellent and the food is heavenly. If you're ever in Chinatown and overwhelmed with the sheer number of restaurants, give this place a try! You won't regret it.