Lunch At Mudan

Mudan Tearoom and Eatery
Cuisine: Korean, vegan friendly
Address: 100 Grey Street, Tauranga 
Phone: 07-571 1988
No website
Drinks: Not licensed
Reservations: Probably unnecessary

Korean pancakes, noodles, tofu, dumplings, this is actually a place I have only heard recommended by vegetarians and vegans, but some of my best friends are vegetarians and vegans, so when Cohen and I headed out for lunch on a rainy Monday and the Ramen and Sichuan joints on Devonport Road were closed we thought we'd give it a try. They make their own tofu and dumplings which is always a plus.

(Interestingly, an associated website describes Mudan as the "Restaurant and Showcase" for New Oriental Market: Creators of Astisan Tofu & Food Products, though they list no other stockists.)

We were the only people in the place and the staff were very strict on social distancing, signing in and all the other current necessities. Fair enough. Makes a change from the Chinese restaurant where we had yum cha last week and were seated within inches of another full table. 

The room is a plain-looking space, brightened by pastel-coloured children's chairs but really needing people to give it a vibe. There is a screen at the far end which showed cooking videos and I understand sometimes has Korean drama. With just the two of us it was a little weird. I think the staff were friendly but it's hard to tell from behind a mask.

Cohen had the Wonton noodle soup and I had the Bibimbap soba noodles with chicken. Each dish cost $18 and they came in very nice big metal bowls. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The soba noodles were fine, buried under several small piles of various vegetables, a tiny amount of chicken and a pleasant if fairly plain sauce. It felt like healthy eating. Cohen's wonton soup was less successful, though he reported that the wontons were tasty. Just as well, because the noodles looked like instant noodles and the stock tasted like Maggi instant noodle soup. Not good.

Given that each of these dishes cost $5 more than an equivalent at Chidori, Sichuan Style or Dumpling Delight - the three other main noodle joints in town - I don't think we'll be rushing back. We probably should have tried the home-made tofu or vegetarian dumplings that people rate so highly. They also serve various bubble teas which I know nothing about but they seem all the rage right now.