Pasta aficionados of all stripes, get ready to chow down. March is National Noodle Month, and the perfect time of year to celebrate this time-honored comfort food in all its forms. Studies show that consumption of the humble noodle spikes by as much as 20 percent in January through March as our winter-weary bodies crave soul-satisfying dishes.
Legend has it that noodles and other pastas were first made in China in 3,000 B.C., but we hear Italians make a pretty good case for the origins beginning in their country, as well. Wherever the first noodle was made, we have a plethora of places we can try them on for size now.
Kohan Japanese Restaurant in University Village will showcase its signature udon noodle dishes during a National Noodle Month promotion throughout March. Menu highlights include tempura udon (a Japanese noodle soup with shrimp and vegetable tempura, $8), nabeyaki udon (with chicken, spinach, egg, fish cakes, fried tofu and shrimp tempura served on the side, $10), seafood udon (with shrimp, scallops, calamari and mussels, $12) and yaki soba or udon (pan-fried thin or thick noodles with chicken and vegetables in a sweet teriyaki sauce, $10).
Kohan Japanese Restaurant is located at 730 W. Maxwell St., 312-421-6254.
