We recently ran across Reren Lamen & Bar (817 7th St NW), which is in the soft opening stage and near Chinatown. Leopold (the owner) says that his noodle soup is “lamen” instead of ramen because he uses fresh (house-made) noodles. My google search didn’t come up with this distinction, but I’ll defer in this matter to the man making delicious noodle dishes.

We tried the dan dan noodles, a Sichuan favorite that is served room at temperature, two lamens (one was the spicy Kung Fu Beef), soup dumplings, scallion pancakes with beef (Leopold calls them Chinese Tacos), and General Tso’s bourbon chicken. All the dishes were tasty, but the lamen dishes were the clear favorites. Everyone has the one friend who has to order General Tso’s (he was with me), but at least it is a well-executed version.

Leopold also owns the Hot People food truck, although it is not currently in use.

-JAY